From dialogue to action
Advancing spatial transformation
National Urban Forum 2025 charts a roadmap to solving South Africa's urban crisis.
Government leaders, policymakers, urban planners, civil society, academics, and community representatives from across South Africa gathered at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) in KwaZulu-Natal last week for the National Urban Forum (NUF) 2025 to chart a new course for inclusive, sustainable, and resilient cities.
The two-day NUF, convened under the theme “Advancing spatial transformation for inclusive, safe, resilient cities that promote sustainable, integrated and habitable human settlements”, marks a turning point in South Africa’s urban development journey as stakeholders came together to co-create actionable solutions to the nation’s most pressing urban challenges.
The NUF, convened by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN Habitat), Department of Cooperative Governance, the South African Cities Network (SACN), the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), and the Department of Human Settlements (DHS) ignited national dialogue on urban development, spatial justice, and inclusive governance.
People-centric urban policy
Cyril Xaba, mayor of eThekwini, set a powerful tone in his opening remarks, calling for bold, unified action across all three spheres of government and sectors to reshape South Africa’s urban future. He championed a people-centric approach to urban policy – one that transforms cities into drivers of opportunity, dignity, and resilience.
“We are acutely aware that municipalities cannot achieve these objectives alone. Therefore, coordinated planning that fosters collaboration among government departments, the private sector, and civil society is crucial.”
Xolani Sotashe, Chairperson of SALGA’s National Working Group on Human Settlements and the Urban Agenda, highlighted the silver lining in South Africa’s rapid urbanisation. If “managed correctly”, he said, this trend could unlock transformative opportunities, from green buildings to smart city innovations, that will shape more efficient, resilient, and truly liveable urban spaces.
“The world population is becoming increasingly urbanised. South Africa is the most urbanised country in Africa, with 68% of people currently living in cities and towns and expected to rise to 80% by 2050. While this has presented huge challenges up to now, if managed well, this trend presents opportunities for smart city development and green building that advance construction solutions.”
A global force for change
Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, hailed the forum’s return as a catalyst for change – reviving the momentum sparked in its inaugural 2024 launch and creating a dynamic space where communities, policymakers, and urban thinkers converge to shape the future of South Africa’s cities through inclusive decision-making.
“This forum is an important moment, not only for South Africa but also for the global urban agenda. It brings together key experts and stakeholders to shape the future of our cities, including access to housing, informal settlement transformation, basic service delivery and climate resilience,” she said.
SALGA President Bheke Stofile revealed that the organisation is actively crafting its contributions to South Africa’s ongoing White Paper review on Local Government. He highlighted that as we reimagine what Local Government should look like in future, we must reimagine what a new Local Government system should look like in our cities and towns to meet today’s complex socio-economic realities.
“We must tackle housing and informal settlement upgrading with urgency. Second, we must prioritise integrated transport and mobility. Third, municipalities must drive local economic development and innovation. Fourth, climate change demands that our cities become resilient and sustainable and invest in renewable energy. Fifth, we must integrate urban food systems into planning. And finally, we must harness financial institutions for revenue sustainability.”
Actionable solutions
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thami Ntuli, echoed Stofile’s sentiments, saying,
“Cities are not just engines of growth but spaces of belonging. That we do not inherit the apartheid city but remake it into one that reflects the values of democracy, of justice, of Ubuntu.
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane also reflected on the inaugural 2024 edition of the NUF, expressing confidence that this year’s gathering would move beyond dialogue to action, solidifying the proposals born from last year’s debates into tangible strategies for urban transformation.
“I am anticipant with great hope that our deliberations during this year’s forum will transcend the ideational notional phase of our interactions to focus more on collaborating to implement solutions to our perennial development challenges, she said.
IUDF
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, described the upcoming review of the Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) as a timely opportunity to harness the collective insights of the NUF to shape recommendations. “Let us be clear: the success of the IUDF is not the responsibility of one department. It is a collective mandate, shared across all spheres of government and sectors of society. Colleagues, the National Urban Forum is not a talk shop, it is a platform for action,” he said.
As the conference continued, delegates and stakeholders rolled up their sleeves to transform panel discussions into innovative, actionable recommendations, laying the foundation for the next chapter in South Africa’s urban journey.
The two-day NUF, convened under the theme “Advancing spatial transformation for inclusive, safe, resilient cities that promote sustainable, integrated and habitable human settlements”, marks a turning point in South Africa’s urban development journey as stakeholders came together to co-create actionable solutions to the nation’s most pressing urban challenges.
The NUF, convened by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN Habitat), Department of Cooperative Governance, the South African Cities Network (SACN), the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), and the Department of Human Settlements (DHS) ignited national dialogue on urban development, spatial justice, and inclusive governance.
People-centric urban policy
Cyril Xaba, mayor of eThekwini, set a powerful tone in his opening remarks, calling for bold, unified action across all three spheres of government and sectors to reshape South Africa’s urban future. He championed a people-centric approach to urban policy – one that transforms cities into drivers of opportunity, dignity, and resilience.
“We are acutely aware that municipalities cannot achieve these objectives alone. Therefore, coordinated planning that fosters collaboration among government departments, the private sector, and civil society is crucial.”
Xolani Sotashe, Chairperson of SALGA’s National Working Group on Human Settlements and the Urban Agenda, highlighted the silver lining in South Africa’s rapid urbanisation. If “managed correctly”, he said, this trend could unlock transformative opportunities, from green buildings to smart city innovations, that will shape more efficient, resilient, and truly liveable urban spaces.
“The world population is becoming increasingly urbanised. South Africa is the most urbanised country in Africa, with 68% of people currently living in cities and towns and expected to rise to 80% by 2050. While this has presented huge challenges up to now, if managed well, this trend presents opportunities for smart city development and green building that advance construction solutions.”
A global force for change
Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, hailed the forum’s return as a catalyst for change – reviving the momentum sparked in its inaugural 2024 launch and creating a dynamic space where communities, policymakers, and urban thinkers converge to shape the future of South Africa’s cities through inclusive decision-making.
“This forum is an important moment, not only for South Africa but also for the global urban agenda. It brings together key experts and stakeholders to shape the future of our cities, including access to housing, informal settlement transformation, basic service delivery and climate resilience,” she said.
SALGA President Bheke Stofile revealed that the organisation is actively crafting its contributions to South Africa’s ongoing White Paper review on Local Government. He highlighted that as we reimagine what Local Government should look like in future, we must reimagine what a new Local Government system should look like in our cities and towns to meet today’s complex socio-economic realities.
“We must tackle housing and informal settlement upgrading with urgency. Second, we must prioritise integrated transport and mobility. Third, municipalities must drive local economic development and innovation. Fourth, climate change demands that our cities become resilient and sustainable and invest in renewable energy. Fifth, we must integrate urban food systems into planning. And finally, we must harness financial institutions for revenue sustainability.”
Actionable solutions
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thami Ntuli, echoed Stofile’s sentiments, saying,
“Cities are not just engines of growth but spaces of belonging. That we do not inherit the apartheid city but remake it into one that reflects the values of democracy, of justice, of Ubuntu.
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane also reflected on the inaugural 2024 edition of the NUF, expressing confidence that this year’s gathering would move beyond dialogue to action, solidifying the proposals born from last year’s debates into tangible strategies for urban transformation.
“I am anticipant with great hope that our deliberations during this year’s forum will transcend the ideational notional phase of our interactions to focus more on collaborating to implement solutions to our perennial development challenges, she said.
IUDF
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, described the upcoming review of the Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) as a timely opportunity to harness the collective insights of the NUF to shape recommendations. “Let us be clear: the success of the IUDF is not the responsibility of one department. It is a collective mandate, shared across all spheres of government and sectors of society. Colleagues, the National Urban Forum is not a talk shop, it is a platform for action,” he said.
As the conference continued, delegates and stakeholders rolled up their sleeves to transform panel discussions into innovative, actionable recommendations, laying the foundation for the next chapter in South Africa’s urban journey.
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