Practice Guide: Building Political and Administrative Capacity to Respond Collaboratively to Community Safety in South African Cities

This practice guide is intended for all stakeholders working for safer South African cities. It is for government officials, politicians and community members.   It deals with the questions: What are the effective ways of supporting
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SACN Position Paper: SSAR

Despite the implementation of what is arguably one of the largest national housing programmes on the continent, there remains a substantial unmet demand for housing. Current estimates indicate that 2,6 million households (approx. 12
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Urban Festival 2023 Report

For over a decade, cities have faced several shocks, including the 2008/09 global financial and economic crisis, water shortages due to droughts brought about by climate change, the health and socioeconomic devastation of the COVID-19
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Strengthening Linkages Between Work Opportunities and Jobs: Understanding the City of Ekurhuleni’s Labour Markets

This report provides an overview of the City of Ekurhuleni’s labour market and its requirements for skills. It does this by analysing the demand for and supply of skills and the imbalances between these. Investigating both the demand for
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Urban Economic Measurement Framework

South African metropolitan (metro) municipalities comprise 55% of South Africa’s economy[1] and 52% of jobs. Between 2011 and 2021, employment in South African metros increased by 222,000 compared to 212,000 for the country as a whole.
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Resilience of SMMEs in South Africa: A Framework for Understanding and Mitigating Exposure to Shocks and Stressors

Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) are vital to the South African economy, generating substantial employment and contributing to the nation’s overall economic growth. However, recent shock events, including floods, civil
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Nurturing SMMEs: An Evaluation of the SMME Support Landscape in South Africa

This paper explores the landscape of support available for Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) operating within the South African economy. By undertaking case studies of different interventions and assessing the roles and impacts
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The State of the Expanded Public Works Programme in South African Cities 2021-2022

The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is a nationwide short- to medium-term government-led initiative. The Programme’s main goals include the provision of social protection and poverty alleviation through the utilisation of public
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The State of Crime and Safety in South African Cities Report 2022

Introduction This report analyses the state of crime and violence in nine of South Africa’s major cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, eThekwini, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay, Mangaung, Buffalo City and Msunduzi. As noted above,
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Spatial Transformation: Measuring Success in South African Cities

Inequality is one of humanity’s greatest challenges, especially in cities where over half the global population lives. Around the world, injustice persists in urban spaces, as “issues of equity, inclusion, race, participation, access
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Integrated Planning and Implementation: The voice of City Practitioners on Working Together in Government

Global urbanisation is unstoppable. Over the past 30 years, the global urban population has doubled, while Africa’s urban population is set to double over the next two decades. In South Africa, cities have the additional challenge of
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Urban Safety Reference Group Policy Brief No.1/2023: The Case for Safety Audits for Community Safety at City Level

“A community safety audit is a process of reviewing (generally) public spaces / urban areas and making recommendations about how they can be improved to prevent crime and promote community safety.”1 Cities around the world have been
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Keep The Bus Moving: SMME Inclusion in the Construction Sector

The “construction mafia” has become the subject of numerous news headlines, as disputes, disruptions, and violence on building sites across the country increasingly threaten the construction sector and urban development. Through the
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20 Year Anniversary Publication

Since 2002, the SACN has been the custodian of South Africa’s urban story and at the heart of urban research and practice. This has been done through its flagship publications, urban conferences, and events. The year 2022 was an
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Urban Festival 2022 Report

The Urban Festival took place on 26−28 October 2022 in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was convened by the South African Cities Network (SACN) in partnership with the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCOG), the South Africa Local
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