The Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Tandi Mahambehlala, is expected to lead a South African delegation to the Inaugural Africa Urban Forum.
The forum is a continental platform that seeks to promote sustainable development in human settlements on the continent.
This year’s forum will be convened under the theme of “Sustainable Urbanisation for Africa’s Transformation: Agenda 2063”.
The forum runs from September 4 to September 6.
According to the Human Settlements Department, the forum was established by the AU Commission in 2022.
“The Africa Urban Forum is the only high-level continental platform that brings together African countries to collaborate and co-ordinate their efforts to address rapid urbanisation.
South Africa has not been spared with rapid urbanisation, resulting in people migrating to urban areas in search of economic opportunities. This migration has put pressure on the government to provide affordable housing.
The department’s spokesperson, Nozuko Zulu, said: “The objectives of the forum include raising the profile of urbanisation as an imperative for sustainable and resilient development in Africa.
“It also aims to support inclusive and participatory human settlement development in Africa’s structural transformation and attainment of Agenda 2063, and facilitating dialogues and buy-in for sustainable urbanisation among Africa’s heads of state and governments.”
Zulu said the Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Dickson Masemola, and some National Executive Committee members of the South African Local Government Association would also form part of the delegation.
The AU Forum is a continental platform that promotes sustainable development in African human settlements.
It is a platform through which governments collaborate to enhance African cities, enabling them to fulfil their potential as centres of hope, growth and prosperity.
The AU Commission and its member states established the Africa Urban Forum in 2022 in response to the rising consciousness of rapid urbanisation in Africa, its opportunities, challenges, and the need to create a continental scale forum to support an inclusive and holistic approach to unlocking the potential of urbanisation on the continent.
Ethiopia will host the Inaugural Africa Urban Forum 2024 to be convened at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum.
The format of the African Urban Forum will include round-tables, plenary sessions, panel discussions, dialogues, side events, assemblies, and exhibitions.
The Star