The Africities Summit newspaper is out.

You can discover the highlights of all Africities sessions that are taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 29 November to 3 December 2015 at the Sandton Convention Centre.

The theme of Africities 7 is “Shaping the Future of Africa with the People: Africa’s local Government Contribution to the Africa 2063 Vision”.

Grassroots Africa examines the continent’s future.

The 7^th Africities Summit started yesterday in the huge Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.  This Pan African event that is held every three years in one of the five regions of Africa, mobilizes communities and territorial governments in African countries, as well as financial institutions and international cooperation.  This summit of cities and territorial authorities in Africa is sponsored and supported by the official authorities of South Africa, including the South African Government, the City of Johannesburg (City Hall), and the South Africa Mayors Association.

Marked by several speeches, the opening ceremony began with that of the speed of the host of the day, M. Parks Tau, the Mayor of Johannesburg, who presented his city, and welcomed the participants from around the world. He expressed the hope that “this summit can help strengthen the role of UCLG in Africa.”

Following him, M. Thabo Manyoni, President of SALGA, the South African Local Government Association, emphasized that these governments “must be at the forefront of development” and advised everybody “not to be afraid of the growing population, but rather to see it as an advantage, if well managed “.

On behalf of Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris who had other commitments in France, her deputy M. Patrick Klugman expressed the compassion of the Parisians for African cities (Tunis, Bamako, and other cities) that were struck by shootings, hence the desire of the Paris municipality to “create healthier , safer and more inclusive cities”.   

On behalf of CGLU, its  president, the Mayor of Istanbul was represented by Mr. Josep Roig, Secretary General, who focused his presentation on the global challenges of empowerment, which requires from mayors to “be responsive, and not to be afraid of making mistakes”.

Representing Ms. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, President of the African Union Commission of the, Ms. Aicha Abdulai, Political Affairs Commissioner of the African Union, invited thinkers and all social players to transform into concrete plans all the ideas contained in Agenda 2063. Like previous speakers, she believes in the empowerment of populations and told the ministers in the room that the AU awaits concrete solutions from this summit, through firm political commitments.

“Think global to act local”, was the creed of Mr. Khalifa Ababacar Sall, Mayor of Dakar and President of CGLU-Africa. To do this, it is imperative that “UCLG-A be strong and united around the same development goals of local governance, since people are tired of divisions”. He said that the populations should design, lead and implement the actions, in order to be the masters of their destiny, and not “be begging all the time “.

The Planning Minister, Mr. Jeff Radebe, speaking in the place of Mr. Jacob Zuma, President of the South African Republic, invited all stakeholders – central governments, local elected officials, civil society, and populations – to a collective awareness-raising exercise about the challenges, between demography and the availability of infrastructure on the one hand, and an increasing social demand for services and opportunities on the other. The Planning Minister warned against the threats posed by water shortages, drought, and environmental change. Ultimately, having stated that “communities should be growth engines through proper planning”, the Minister solemnly declared open the 7^th Africities Summit.

The theme of the summit is “Building Africa with its population, the contribution of local and regional authorities of Africa to Agenda 2063 of the African Union”. The architecture of the summit includes thematic sessions, stakeholder sessions, open sessions and policy sessions – meetings of mayors, local authorities and ministers – followed by a dialogue with development partners. An exhibition that enables all those interested in working with local authorities to offer their services, products and solutions, is held in the sidelines of the summit. The summit organizers expect more than 4,000 persons to attend.

The Africities 2015 Summit taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 29 November to 03 December is an opportunity that can’t be missed for all stakeholders involved in local governance and local development.

Hence, Abahlali baseMjondolo delegates at the 7th Africities Summit will use this opportunity to vocalize the difficulties faced by people in informal settlements and will ensure that their voices are  being expressed in a honest manner.

Abahlali baseMjondolo is the South African shack dwellers’ movement which started in 2005.  Although it is overwhelmingly located in and around the large port city of Durban it is, in terms of the numbers of people mobilised, the largest organization of the militant poor in post-apartheid South Africa.

The organization’s delegation will participate in debates and forums during Africities that will enhance knowledge sharing in techniques for better social mobilization ensuring that the state fulfills its obligation to provide adequate housing to all. The Abahlali baseMjondolo delegates will network and lobby for policies that are for the best interest of the most vulnerable members of the continent. In other words, the delegates will mobilise and engage with organizations with a similar mandate. Abahlali baseMjondolo will also indicate the limit of governments to implement progressive policies in informal settlements.

The Abahlali baseMjondolo movement expects that the 7th Africities Summit will take in to careful consideration the immediate desperation of people’s lack of access to land and housing in informal settlements. The recognition of people’s inherent human dignity should be paramount in all resolutions coming out of the summit.

For more information about Africities sessions, you can visit the official website of the summit at www.africities2015.org

Africities 2015: Abahlali baseMjondolo,  The Africities 2015 Summit taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 29 November to 03 December is an opportunity that can’t be missed for all stakeholders involved in local governance and local development. Hence, Abahlali baseMjondolo delegates at the 7th Africities Summit will use this opportunity to vocalize the difficulties faced by people in informal settlements and will ensure that their voices are  being expressed in a honest manner. Abahlali baseMjondolo is the South African shack dwellers’ movement which started in 2005.  Although it is overwhelmingly located in and around the large port city of Durban it is, in terms of the numbers of people mobilised, the largest organization of the militant poor in post-apartheid South Africa. The organization’s delegation will participate in debates and forums during Africities that will enhance knowledge sharing in techniques for better social mobilization ensuring that the state fulfills its obligation to provide adequate housing to all. The Abahlali baseMjondolo delegates will network and lobby for policies that are for the best interest of the most vulnerable members of the continent. In other words, the delegates will mobilise and engage with organizations with a similar mandate. Abahlali baseMjondolo will also indicate the limit of governments to implement progressive policies in informal settlements.The Abahlali baseMjondolo movement expects that the 7th Africities Summit will take in to careful consideration the immediate desperation of people’s lack of access to land and housing in informal settlements. The recognition of people’s inherent human dignity should be paramount in all resolutions coming out of the summit. For more information about Africities sessions, you can visit the official website of the summit at www.africities2015.org

On the occasion of the 7^th international exhibition of cities and local governments in Africa, Africities Exhibition, which is part of the 7th Africities Summit, in Johannesburg, “Arterial Network” and “Culture et Développement” have the pleasure to invite you to join the debate session SH18 on the topic “The contribution of local authorities in the promotion and reinforcement of the role of arts and culture in the Agenda 2063”.

The session is scheduled for the 30^th November 2015, from 9AM to 11AM and will be chaired by the Mayor of Yopougon, Kafana Koné Gilbert, Chairman of UVICOCI with the participation of Mayor of Dakar, Khalifa Sall, President of UCLG Africa; Mayor of Segou, Ousmane Simaga; Deputy Mayor of Durban, Nomvuso Shabalala;  Mamou Daffe (Arterial Network/ Réseau Kya, Mali); Francisco D’Almeida(Culture et Développement, Togo/ France); Selma Ouissi (L’Art Rue, Tunisia).

Elected representatives, speakers, sector experts and the audience will be invited to debate on the key role of culture for local sustainable development and on the contribution of local authorities to the cultural dimension of the Agenda 2063.  Through best practice examples, the panel will highlight how the development of coherent, integrated cultural policies, strategies and programmes can maximize the role of Arts and Culture in:

• Socio-economic growth and development
• Pan-African and international cooperation
• Citizen empowerment and community engagement

For more details, you can contact: Marie Sachet marie@arterialnetwork.org  and Eudoxie Sallaz  territoires.associes@culture-developpement.asso.fr