South African Cities Network

11/06/2026

Change is in the hands of our youth! 🌟

The South African Cities Network (SACN), through its Urban Safety Reference Group (USRG) platform, held the Innovation Competition on Youth-led GBV Prevention in Public Spaces from 2023 to 2024.

Six youth-led teams from across South Africa participated in an intensive program to sharpen their strategies for community safety

The highlights include:
✅ 5 months of mentorship and specialised training
✅ Small grants awarded to top interventions to amplify their impact
✅ Development of innovative and sustainable approaches to GBVF prevention

By collaborating with government stakeholders, these young leaders are making our cities safer and more inclusive for everyone.

Check out the Impact Report to see how youth-led innovation is leading the way!

👇 Download the report: https://bit.ly/4uxyaMO

10/06/2026

How can cities create safer communities where resources are limited and challenges are complex?

The Safety Shelters project is exploring new ways to improve safety through collaboration, innovation, and local partnerships.

Developed as part of the Kelvin-Alexandra Frankenwald City Studio, the initiative focuses on communities around the Marlboro Gautrain Station in Johannesburg and brings together universities, city practitioners, and local actors to address urban safety challenges. The project showcases the role of youth and emerging planning and architecture scholars in the City Studio, who are contributing fresh perspectives to reimagine the future of our urban spaces, and demonstrating the value of collaborative safety governance in building more resilient and inclusive communities.

🎥 Watch the video to discover how partnerships can help shape safer cities.

04/06/2026

Young people are at the heart of South Africa's future.

The latest labour market data paints a picture of both opportunity and challenge, highlighting the important role youth play in our economy while underscoring the need for greater access to jobs, skills development and economic opportunities.

Source: Stats SA QLFS Q1 2026

03/06/2026

Reimagining South African Cities Through the Lens of the Youth.

This documentary highlights the SACN Youth & City Spaces initiative, which aims to transform urban environments into more inclusive and vibrant spaces for young citizens.

Key contributors propose enhancing the city's aesthetics through vertical gardens and rooftop spaces to boost community engagement and food security. Young people also call for essential infrastructure like universal public Wi-Fi, increased funding for the arts, and recreational centres.

The focus is on co-creating sustainable cities that prioritise safety, digital accessibility, and youth professional development.

27/05/2026

Cities are experiencing their greatest turbulence in the democratic era, with shifting dynamics in council formation and ongoing urbanisation challenges, including population growth, poverty, and the effects of energy and water scarcity.

The State of Cities Report 2021 offers recommendations to help cities build a new political outlook for local government, enabling them to survive and thrive in the next phase of democratic local government.

See the five recommendations below 👇



To read the full 2021 report, see the link in our bio.

25/05/2026

Happy 🌍

On this day of unity, we celebrate the continent's rich diversity, resilience, and unlimited potential.

22/05/2026

The fourth season of the Good Hood Stories films features four South African projects that demonstrate collaboration and creativity to improve human settlements and forward the ideals of the New Urban Agenda on the ground.

In the first Good Hood Story, an NGO called Afesis has partnered with the local community and the Buffalo City Municipality to "reblock" the Phola Park settlement as part of an informal settlement upgrading process.

The second Good Hood Story features three different innovative placemaking projects in Cape Town, each driven by local community champions to bring safety, dignity and pride to their neighbourhoods. LightUp, PAINT and iThemba Walkway all use small interventions to bring about big change.

Thank you to our partners, the Department of Human Settlements and Our Future Cities.

Watch the full episodes on our YouTube Channel, click here: https://bit.ly/43lfrZF

21/05/2026

This morning the Good Hood Stories Season 4 was screened at the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, to an international audience.

Thank you to our partners, .org.za for coordinating the screening and to the for funding this inspiring storytelling project.

21/05/2026

🚨Good Hood Stories Season 4 will be screened today at World Urban Forum 13 , UN-HABITAT. The project was launched in 2021 to showcase stories of creativity, collaboration and innovation from across South Africa!

Thank you to our partners, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA)n & the Department of Human Settlements, for their support!

19/05/2026