Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) media roundtable a success
This morning Deputy Minister Andries Nel hosted the first of a series of Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) Media Roundtables, in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.
Highway Africa and Executive Director of the South African National Editors’ Forum, Mr Mathatha Tsedu, co-hosted the roundtable that aims to develop local government reporting capacity to promote the media's role to inform and educate citizens.
"The IUDF offers a New Deal for South Africa’s towns and cities in line with the National Development Plan. We must manage South Africa's rapid urbanisation to ensure that we reap the benefits of urbanisation and mitigate its downsides. It is also an important tool to reverse apartheid spatial patterns and ensure that our cities are more integrated and inclusive. We want to build cities & towns that are compact, inclusive and well connected. Cities that offer good public transport and easy access to jobs," said Deputy Minister Nel.
The IUDF was approved by Cabinet on 26 April 2016. Deputy Minister Nel highlighted the staggering rates of urbanisation in the world, especially in Africa and Asia.
“In 1950, 30 percent of the world’s population lived in urban areas, by 2050 this will have increased to 66 percent. Eight out of every ten South Africans will live in urban areas.”
Nel also emphasised the inextricable links between urban and rural areas. “Urban areas need rural areas and rural areas need urban areas. Urban development and rural development must go hand in hand.”
Strengthening municipalities to manage urbanisation is an important part of government's Back to Basics approach. “We must dispel the myth that local government is one unmitigated disaster zone. Many municipalities are examples of excellence, others are getting the basics right but face challenges, some are, quite frankly, dysfunctional. Together we are working to get these dysfunctional municipalities working.”
Enquiries:
Mpho Lekgoro
Cell: 071 607 3081
Email: mphol@cogta.gov.za
