PROGRAMME AND CONFERENCE MATERIAL
Said at the conference
Sida’s largest urban programme ever has come to its end.
The Sida-financed Urban Programme has been an important part of Swedish cooperation with South Africa and has run successfully for 10 years in three South African Municipalities; Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City and Sol Plaatje.Lessons learned and best practices have been collected in a series of booklets to help and inspire others who wish to embark on similar initiatives.
In a concluding conference held in Port Elizabeth 4th to 6th of September this year, some 150 participants came together for a discussion to account for experiences of urban development in South Africa and elsewhere. Some participants had travelled from as far as India and Palestine to learn from South Africa’s experiences.
"President Mbeki spotted me at a dinner last Friday and said: 'We go back a long way, don't we? The alliance with which we fought apartheid now has to be recreated to fight unemployment and poverty.'" said the Swedish Ambassador to South Africa, Anders Möllander, in a speech held at the conference dinner. "We want to be with you in this new alliance to help you make this country, and indeed the world, a better place for all."
"This conference is the first of its kind,” said Dag Sundelin, head of Swedish Development Cooperation in South Africa at the Swedish embassy in Pretoria.
"We are closing the circle and sharing what we have learned."
The programme objectives were to contribute to sustainable development, reduce segregation and strengthen development planning in the three municipalities. Both the Northern Cape province, where Sol Plaatje is situated, and the Eastern Cape with Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City, were established after the fall of apartheid and needed help to develop their administrative capacity.
The programme had a holistic view on urban development, from building houses and setting up street lights and community centres to developing systems for transport and waste management, as well as programmes to combat HIV and AIDS.
For instance, parts of the townships Galeshewe in Sol Plaatje and New Brighton in Port Elizabeth have been upgraded with paved roads, trees, sports centres and street lights. Now that the roads are lit up the number of robberies have gone down and the inhabitants are able to walk safely even after dark.
Thousands of families in the three municipalities have moved into practical and flexible low-cost housing designed by Swedish and South African architects. The houses have both kitchen and bathrooms indoors, thus increasing the security of the inhabitants. Environmentally friendly solutions have been an important aspect of the support to low-cost housing and the concept of ecological sanitation has been widely spread.
As part of the programme the South African municipalities have entered into twinning partnerships with Swedish municipalities. Nelson Mandela Bay is cooperating closely with Göteborg and Buffalo City with Gävle, while Sol Plaatje cooperated with Falun/Borlänge. They have so far exchanged experiences and expertise in areas ranging from institutional development, integrated planning, infrastructure and Geographic Information Systems; to arts, business, sports and youth club projects. The partnerships are likely to live on for many years to come.
Thomas Melin, head of Sida’s Urban department said:
“The base of our engagement, which started with the fall of the apartheid regime, was to sustain democracy. A tremendous change has happened during these past years and the achievements made by the municipalities are enormous.”
For Eldridge Jerry, portfolio councillor for Housing and Land in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, it is important to engage the poor in their own future:
"Poor people are suspicious to authorities. You have to walk with them to win their confidence", he told the audience at the closing session of the three day conference.
He was satisfied with the Swedish position:"When others fell off, Sweden and Sida stayed on course and today Swedes are our friends. The core is the unbreakable friendship we have developed".
The programme was coordinated by the Swedish consultant company SIPU International, which provided long-term urban development advisors to the municipalities participating in the programme.
"Through participatory processes, community involvement and political support; the programme has contributed to an improved quality of life in several communities", says Gabriel Marin, one of the Urban Advisors.
Consultant support was further provided by several Swedish and South African companies throughout the programme.
The cooperation is now entering a new phase, including continued cooperation between the Swedish and South African municipalities.
The documentation consists of one DVD and eight booklets with the following titles:
Integrated Municipal Development
Township Upgrading & Community Development
Housing
Transport & Traffic Safety
Environment, Waste Management, Water & Sanitation
HIV and AIDS
Municipal Partnerships
The Urban Development Programme 1996-1997
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Text by Lars Grip and Åsa Fridh