31 October

The United Nations has designated every 31st of October as World Cities Day. The Day is expected to greatly promote the international community’s interest in global urbanisation, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanisation, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.

The general theme of World Cities Day is Better City, Better Life, while each year a different sub-theme is selected, to either promote successes of urbanisation, or address specific challenges resulting from urbanization.

South African government, through the Department of Cooperative Governance’s Intergrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) is paving a new deal for South African cities and towns.

The IUDF builds on the National Development Plan and its vision for urban South Africa. The National Development Plan (NDP) places ‘transforming human settlements and the national space economy’ at its centre. By 2030 SA should see reviving rural areas and creating more integrated, balanced and vibrant urban settlements.