Future Cape Town and Future Johannesburg welcome the recent release of the discussion document “Towards an Integrated Urban Development Framework” by the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. This in response to a call by President Jacob Zuma during this year’s State of the Nation address for a coordinated national approach to urban development and spatial transformation.
We fully support the statement that the debate about the urban future of our country and its cities is “a debate for everyone” and that “we must collectively imagine and realize the urban spaces we wish to live in”.
Over 2013, close to 80,000 visitors have visited our website, with a milestone of 20,000 followers reached on Twitter alone, showing the need and demand for awareness around the direction of South African cities.
Apart from our growing social media reach and website platform for articles, ideas, and inspiration, we recently hosted a public installation that engaged citizens on urban issues, while our Bold City forum on Saturday 2 November, sought to start a dialogue about re-thinking transport in South Africa’s cities. We will continue to explore other opportunities and mediums to reach more South Africans, including leveraging Cape Town’s designation as World Design Capital 2014.
Says Rashiq Fataar, Director of Future Cape Town: “We have created platforms like Future Cape Town and Future Johannesburg with the very purpose of being an accessible platform for citizens to engage in dialogue about our urban future. To support the sustainability and vibrancy of these platforms will require all sectors to come to the table, and we call on government at all spheres to join this dialogue.”
According to Shaakira Chohan, Co-ordinator of Future Johannesburg, the “engagement of urban citizens on the re-imagination of our cities is critical for a spatial transformation that is more participatory. A city’s success lies in its embrace by its users, and until its users are allowed to contribute, discuss and imagine their spaces, there will be a sharp disconnection between the heart and it’s arteries.”
Notes to Editors
1. Future Cape Town is a non-profit organisation creating platform for dialogue, awareness and action around the future of our cities. http://futurecapetown.com/about-us/
2. Follow Future Cape Town and Future Joburg on twitter at the following links:
https://twitter.com/futurecapetown
https://twitter.com/FutureJoburg
3. Like Future Cape Town on Facebook.
4. Future Cape Town’s previous Bold City mini-conference reached up to 280,000 people on social media. See here.
5. Future Cape Town has officially been recognised by the World Design Capital 2014. See here.
Issued by
Media Office, Future Cape Town