Urbanisation, spatial inequality, and declining CBD performance remain pressing concerns for metropolitan cities like Johannesburg.

The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM Region F) and Department of Economic Development, in partnership with SALGA, Gauteng COGTA, Jozi My Jozi, and the National School of Government, recently hosted an Urban Management and Governance Workshop, aimed at strengthening collaboration and finding practical solutions to Johannesburg’s complex urban challenges.

The keynote speaker, Dr Tanya Zack, an urban development expert, emphasised the inner city’s potential as a mega retail port serving traders across southern Africa. She highlighted the need for improved safety, logistics, and cross-border trade partnerships to drive renewal.

The workshop, held under the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group initiative, underscored the city’s focus on getting the basics right for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Panellists discussed enhancing city governance through bottom-up planning, citizen ownership, and stronger private-sector partnerships.

The World Bank’s Tebogo Mokgata emphasised the need for adaptability to social and economic change, while urban designer Anna-Marie Loots called for translating policy into practical precinct management.

An international peer-learning exchange brought insights from Shanghai and Singapore. Professor Xiaolin from the Shanghai Administration Institute shared lessons on inclusive, technology-driven governance, highlighting the city’s digital twin system for risk management and its community service model that ensures access to essential services within a 15-minute radius.

The workshop concluded with commitment sessions, where participants pledged actionable steps to strengthen urban governance and revitalise Johannesburg’s inner city.