The South African Cities Network prepares and publishes regular editions of a State of the Cities Reports for South Africa.

THE State of the Cities reports, with their thorough research, provide a basis on which to start looking at how to make South African cities better places in which to live, work and play.

The first edition, in 2004, provided a first-of-its-kind overview of how the nine largest cities in the country had performed between 1996 and 2001 against the thematic ideals of productivity, inclusivity, sustainability and good governance.

It became a key reference work for public policy development across the spheres of government, strategic planning (particularly by provinces and the cities) and further academic work by a range of researchers.

A second edition, in 2006, was much wider in its scope and provided a clearer picture of the trends in urban performance and the dynamics that shape cities in South Africa.

It looked at how city development strategies stimulated economic growth and the extent to which cities had provided access to services, amenities and opportunities for all residents.

In addition the report investigated the urban development and service delivery agendas for South Africa’s cities on the road to 2010 and beyond.