International and local urban planners are calling for more cohesion between Johannesburg's northern and southern suburbs.

Mayors, municipal managers and local government practitioners met recently in Cape Town to evaluate the progress of government support programmes to municipalities.

Moves are underway to accelerate the restructuring of the electricity industry with the focus now on preparing Eskom and municipalities to join the regional distributors

Youth desks should be established in every mayor's office in the country, according to the South African Local Government Association.

The Buffalo City Urban Development Zone has received a major boost with the announcement of the prefferd bidder to buy and develop property on the East London beachfront.

The eThekwini Municipality has launched its Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) policy framework to guide the implementation of the city's EPWP which is expected reduce poverty.

Moves by government to conduct an assessment at national level of the Integrated Development Plans of municipalities has boosted the adoption rate of these critical projects.

The metro has won the Proudly South African Homegrown best municipality in SA award, in recognition of its considered approach to the complexities of running a city.

Improved and maintained infrastructure, the empowering of businesses owned by women and a better safety-net package are some of Buffalo City's priorities for the 2007-08 financial year.

eThekwini's award winning Zibambele project has resulted in sustainable jobs for the community and has facilitated access to other services like social grants.