27 March 2000
Pretoria - "African cities hold the key to large scale development in the continent", said Housing Minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele at the opening of the African Solutions conference here today.
Mthembi-Mahanyele added that Africa, the continent of villages, has some lessons to offer the world. The continent, in spite of going through violent wars, famine and abject poverty, has devised strategies of implementing sustainable development that will radically shift the debate around the concept of development.
"Cities, rather than countries, are becoming entities in the 'Global village' linked by a global communications network. Successful human settlements are those that manage to maintain their quality of life, achieved by maintaining low pollution, vibrant commercial and productive
districts, in harmony with nature and providing all the urban facilities in a sustainable way." said Mthembi-Mahanyele.
The conference jointly hosted by the departments of Housing and Environmental Affairs and Tourism, will explore solutions around housing finance, sustainable environmental management and show case best practices.
The results of the deliberations will be compiled into a report to be launched on Wednesday, 29 March via a network, where other practitioners can consult or add best practices in the continent. South Africa contributes towards feeding an African perspective on sustainable development and hope that other practitioners will draw lessons from them.
The conference, part of a process that is aimed at the reawakening of African cities, and a contribution to the African Renaissance will give the Housing department an opportunity to submit the contents of the report to Urban 21 at a conference to be held in Germany in July 2000.
For more information contact: Gege Kekana
Cell: 083-457-6577
Issued by Government Communication (GCIS) on behalf of the Department of Housing