The mayors of Johannesburg and Tshwane have voiced their concerns about the growing inadequacies in local and provincial governance, reiterating the urgent need for more resources ahead of the Urban 20 summit they are co-hosting this weekend. Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero and Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya addressed the media, highlighting their commitment to ensuring that cities can better meet the needs of their communities.
Adding weight to this call, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi emphasised the need for urgent reforms during a seminar on the future of regional and local government. Lesufi noted that external factors, including climate change and budgetary constraints, have a disproportionate impact on local governments, which bear the brunt of community expectations. “Immense expectations are thus putting a heavy burden on sub-national governments to adjust their service delivery models in line with these expectations,” he stated, pointing out that the challenges faced at the local level can often overshadow those managed by the national government.
Lesufi’s remarks highlight the reality that local governments are tasked with a broad spectrum of responsibilities, from infrastructure development to service delivery, while simultaneously coping with the pressures of migration and urbanisation that strain existing resources. The mayors noted that uncontrolled population growth spurred by migration has compounded economic challenges, intensifying the costs of providing basic services in already stretched urban environments.
In their bid to elevate the role of local governance on the global stage, Morero and Moya are engaging with mayors from other G-20 member cities to advocate for representation in international multilateral bodies. “Cities are the beating heart of global governance,” proclaimed Morero, referencing the dramatic demographic shifts that forecast around 70% of the world’s population living in cities by 2050. “If we are to achieve global financial sustainability and equity in growth, we must acknowledge that the challenges we face will be won or lost in the urban areas we govern.”
Moya further expanded on the pressing issues facing cities in the Global South, highlighting the need for genuine multi-level governance. “Mayors must have a seat at the global table because we are the ones who carry national commitments into daily life,” she asserted, emphasising the unique struggles of managing rapid urbanisation and urgent service delivery commitments.
The discussion, set against the backdrop of the upcoming summit, serves as a reminder of both the challenges and opportunities within African cities. The draft communiqué developed in Tshwane earlier this year will propose actionable shifts towards improving multi-level governance, refining the roles local governments play in addressing national and global aspirations. According to Moya, this document is not merely an aspiration, but a critical blueprint for immediate action.
