Research Reports

The South African Cities Network Research Areas, the Built Environment, City Development Strategy, Inclusive Cities, Productive Cities, Sustainable Cities and Well-Governed Cities prepares and publishes regular editions of work. These publications, 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.

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2019 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • Rethinking LED (Local Economic Development): In Intermediate Cities
  • Infrastructure Dialogues: Annual Compendium (2018-2019)
  • SA Urban Conference 2018 Report
  • The State of the Expanded Public Works Programme Annual Report 2017-2018
  • State of City Finances People’s Guide 2018
  • The State of Urban Safety in South African Cities Report 2018/19
  • Political Administrative Interface in the Built Environment

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2018 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • Does the Current Municipal Institutional Architecture and Planning Culture Enable Urban Land Transformation?
  • Urban Innovations
  • State of City Finances (2018)
  • Urban Land Dialogue Series 2018 – Report
  • Infrastructure Dialogues: Annual Compendium (2017-2018)
  • Infrastructure Dialogues Report: Intermediate Cities as Destinations for Investment
  • City Development Strategies (CDS) Guideline – Long-range Planning in South Africa: A Practice-based Guide to City Development Strategies
  • The New Urban Agenda Localisation Framework [NUA-LF]

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2017 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • Infrastructure Dialogue: Black Construction / BEE Professional Companies and their Participation / Transformative Prospects in the Infrastructure Sector
  • The State of the Expanded Public Works Programme in South African Cities Report 2016-2017
  • The Urban Land Paper Series Vol. 2: A Transit-Orientated Development Lens
  • Spatial Transformation: Are Intermediate Cities Different?
  • The State of Urban Safety in South Africa Report 2017
  • Common Data Framework for Cities
  • Ekhaya Residential City Improvement on Economic Development for Inclusive Cities: Combating Inequalities in Urban Regeneration with the Social Economy
  • Infrastructure Dialogues: Annual Compendium (2016-2017)
  • Linking Population Dynamics to Municipal Revenue Allocation in South African Cities
  • Better Demographics for Improved Planning and Problem Solving in South Africa
  • Infrastructure Dialogue Report: Seizing Opportunities
  • Towards an Alternative Financial Model for Metropolitan Cities in South Africa
  • BRICS Cities: Facts and Analysis

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2016 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • UNISA-Authored Series Funded by the Japan International Development Agency (JICA)
  • Infrastructure Dialogue Report: Safety in our Public Spaces
  • The Spatial Strategies Alignment Paper
  • The State of the Expanded Public Works Programme in South African Cities Report 2015-2016
  • Planning for Green Infrastructure: Options for South African Cities
  • Infrastructure Dialogue Report: Innovative Partnerships for the Future
  • The Annual Compendium: South African Conversations on Infrastructure
  • The State of Urban Safety in South Africa Report 2016
  • Developing a Collective Approach to Mixed Use Development in Transit Oriented Development
  • Scoping Study: State of the City Infrastructure
  • The State of South African Cities Report 2016
  • The People’s Guide – SOCR 2016
  • The Transport User Experience Poster
  • The Transient Oriented Density Framework
  • Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) Impacts at a Neighbourhood Level (Volume 2)
  • The Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF)
  • The State of Water in Cities
  • The Citizens’ Guide to the State of the City Finances 2015
  • Infrastructure Dialogue: Financing of Capital Programmes
  • The State of the Expanded Public Works Programme in South African Cities Report 2014-2015
  • The Expanded Public Works Programme
  •  The Built Environment Integration Roadmap

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2015 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • The Urban Safety Flyer
  • South African Cities Network Concept Paper, Status Quo Report & Cost Benefit Assessment Report
  • Accelerating the Transition into Green Transport in South African Cities
  • State of Energy in South African Cities (2015)
  • The State of City Finances 2015 Report
  • The Urban Land Paper Series Vol. 1
  • Movement Cape Town
  • Movement Johannesburg
  • The South African Township Economies & Commercial Property Markets Report
  • South Africa Cities Network’s Strategic Evaluation
  • Infrastructure Dialogue Report: Towards Sustainable African Cities
  • Agro-Food Value Chain
  • Current and Future Realities for Urban Food Security in South Africa
  • Youth Policy Field and Institutional Analyses at Municipal Level in South Africa
  • Move the City 2035: Minibus Taxi Scenarios
  • The Annual Compendium: South African Conversations on Infrastructure (2014- 2015)
  • Public Transport Skills (2015)
  • Infrastructure Dialogue: Pricing and Paying for Municipal Rates and Charges
  • Msunduzi City Development Strategy (CDS) Booklet
  • The South African Urban Conference 2015
  • Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPUMLA) as a Tool for Spatial Transformation
  • The State of Water in Cities: Analysis of Water Resource and its Management in Cities
  • Infrastructure Dialogue: Water and Sanitation
  • Assessing the Fiscal Impacts of Development
  • Potential for a Better Life: The Tale of Nine Cities

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2014 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • The Changing State of Cities Finances (Briefing Note)
  • Infrastructure Dialogue: Localisation – Driving Industrialisation through the National Infrastructure Plan
  • Know your Block Toolkit: Work to Make a Great Place
  • Cities’ Climate Change Resilience
  • State of Waste Management in Cities: Phase 2: Modelling the Effects of Landfilling as a Disposal Method
  • Infrastructure Dialogue: Financing Public Infrastructure – The Case of Student Accommodation
  • From Housing to Human Settlements: Evolving Perspectives
  • Outside the Core: Towards an Understanding of Intermediate Cities in South Africa
  • Towards a New Growth Path in Africa: A Study of National Urban Policy Responses to Urbanisation
  • A Case for Municipal Solid Waste Management
  • Tourism
  • Planning and Governance Challenges of Cities with Extensive Rural Geographies
  • Social Value Chains
  • A Case for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency
  • Migration, Mobility and Urban Vulnerability – Implications of Urban Governance in South Africa
  • The State of the Expanded Public Works Programme in South African Cities Report 2012-2013
  • Modeling Energy Efficiency Potential in South African Cities Network Cities
  • Understanding Affordable Housing Markets in South Africa
  • Urban Shelter: Citizens Rights – Understanding the Role of Cities
  • The State of the Expanded Public Works Programme in South African Cities Report 2013-2014
  • How to Make Cities Safer
  • A Guideline on How to Conduct Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Baseline Reports 2014
  • Land Acquisition Study
  • From Housing to Human Settlements Timeline
  • Developing a Public Transport Investment Assessment Framework
  • How to Build Transit-Oriented Cities
  • The Role of Community-Based Planning
  • Experiences from the African Continent to Improve Community-Based Planning
  • Informal City Reader ZA
  • The State of the Expanded Public Works Programme in South African Cities Report 2009-2012
  • The Spatial Transformation of Cities Conference 2014 (Report)

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2013 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • Secondary Cities Case Study: Emalahleni
  • Secondary Cities Case Study: George
  • Secondary Cities Case Study: Polokwane
  • Secondary Cities Case Study: Umhlathuze
  • Secondary Cities Case Study: City of Matlosana
  • Public Transport and Mobility in South Africa
  • Infrastructure Dialogue: Maintenance of Public Infrastructure
  • Consolidation of Lessons Learned for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Initiative within Cities
  • Renewable Energy – Energy Efficiency Lessons Learned
  • Infrastructure Dialogue: Regenerative Cities: An Ideal We Can’t Afford
  • The State of the Cities Finances 2013 Report
  • South African Urban Strategies Alignment Study
  • Urban Indicators 2013 – Study Findings
  • Land Acquisition Report
  • The Space Economy: An Important Consideration in Spatial Development Planning
  • New Provincial Planning Legislation in South African Cities: Understanding from the Reform Process

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2012 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • Perspective on Stormwater Drainage Issues in Low-Income Human Settlements
  • Perspective on Diverging Approaches to Slum Upgrading
  • Perspective on Non-Conventional Management Practices Between Landlord and Tenants
  • Report on Conference on Slum Upgrading & Prevention Policy
  • Report on Visits to Mathare Valley & Kambi Moto in Huruma
  • Report on Nachu Office and UN Habitat Office
  • Infrastructure Dialogue: Listening, Reflecting and Acting – Seeking Lessons from our Infrastructure Sector Performance
  • Roundtable Law Reform in Planning
  • Secondary Cities in South Africa
  • Addressing the Crisis of Planning Law Reform in South Africa 2012
  • Important Legal Issues for Provincial Legislation Dealing with Spatial Planning and Land Use Management (SPLUM) 2012

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2011 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • Provincial Land Use Legislative Reform Report – Gauteng
  • Provincial Land Use Legislative Reform Report – Western Cape
  • Provincial Land Use Legislative Reform Report – KwaZulu-Natal
  • Provincial Land Use Legislative Reform Report – Eastern Cape
  • Provincial Land Use Legislative Reform Report – Free State
  • Provincial Land Use Legislative Reform Report – Northern Cape
  • Provincial Land Use Legislative Reform Report – Mpumalanga
  • Provincial Land Use Legislative Reform Report – Limpopo
  • Taking Stock: The Development of Retail Centres in Emerging Economy Areas
  • Guide to the State of City Finances
  • South African Cities Network Response to Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Bill (SPLUMB)
  • The Financing of City Services in Southern Africa (2010)
  • Partnership Models for Accountability and Monitoring in Municipal Programmes
  • The State of the City Finances 2011 Report
  • Housing Subsidy Assets: Overall Analysis
  • Creating and Capturing Value around Transport Nodes
  • Township Regeneration in Small Towns
  • The State of South African Cities Report 2011

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2010 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • Operations and Management of Township Nodal Developments: Khayelitsha Business District Case Study
  • Partnership for Development: Bakubung-Ba-Ratheo and Wesizwe Platinum Case Study
  • Retail Centres and Township Development
  • The Expanded Public Works Programme Quarterly Report 2010
  • Report: Framework to Assess the Legacy Impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
  • Green Economy Summit Report 2010

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2009 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • Well-Governed Cities Report 2009
  • Inclusive Cities Annual Report 2009
  • Sustainable Cities Report 2009
  • Study into State of Public Transport 2009
  • Urban Environmental Management Programme (UEMP) 2009 Reports
  • Township Transformation Timeline
  • Township Timeline: Poster
  • Township Renewal Sourcebook
  • Case Study in Township Renewal: Kwamashu
  • Securing Municipal Finance in South Africa Report

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2008 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • Good Practice Guide for State of Cities Reporting: 2008
  • Inclusive Cities Annual Report 2008
  • Sustainable Cities Report: 2008
  • A National Overview of Spatial Trends and Settlement Characteristics 2008
  • The State of the Expanded Public Works Programme in South African Cities Report 2008
  • The State of the City Finances 2008 Report
  • Effective Utility Management: A Primer for Water and Wastewater Utilities 2008

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2007 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • Inclusive African Cities Conference 2007

KNOWLEDGE HUB / 2006 / RESEARCH REPORTS

  • The State of South African Cities Report 2006
  • Local Government Performance Review 2006

2005

  • April 2005 (1 article)

2004

  • October 2004 (1 article)

2003

  • October 2003 (1 article)

2002

  • October 2002 (1 article)