Pretoria - 28 March 2000
Honourable Ministers
Mayors
Ambassadors
Leaders of Delegations and Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen
Thank your for inviting me to share some of my thoughts on the complex issues concerning human settlement that face us as a country and as a continent. Human settlement, in the ordinary sense of the concept is a natural phenomenon that is largely driven by economic needs. Human beings naturally gravitate towards places that they perceive to offer the best opportunities for their personal survival and advancement. This is generally true of humans in all walks of life.
In the African context however this has had additional elements. Historically human settlement in the continent has been influenced by factors outside of the control of the indigenous people. From the time of colonisation through to the era of liberation there was a deliberate process that saw mainly black people being confined to areas specifically demarcated for their occupation at the periphery of the cities.
In all the affected countries there was no attempt to develop these areas in such a manner that they were suitable for human occupation. There was instead a deliberate effort to ensure that they stayed in those demarcated areas and did not have easy access to the cities where all the development was taking place. The end result of this phenomenon was the side by side existence of two worlds in one. This has remained the case in all the major cities in the continent.
In the last couple of decades there has been greater human movement towards the cities as people have been forced off the land in the rural areas by various factors including political instability, economic downturns, droughts etc.
All this has put tremendous strain on the resources of those cities as well on the environment around them. To me then this is the reason that we have had to meet today in preparation for the Urban 21 conference. It is the reason that we have to put our heads together as Africans and find African solutions that take into account the dynamics of the unique human settlement issues of Africa.
It is essential that in our deliberations we recognise that our cities and towns are the economic lifeline of our countries. Well functioning economies are dependent on the existence of sustainable, habitable and vibrant cities and towns. Urban societies have greater chances for the improvement of people's lives and are therefore a critical element of the human settlement process.
In this regard therefore urbanisation as a basic condition for development requires proper management to achieve beneficial results.
This is necessary to ensure that the pressure brought about by explosive urban population growths does not impact negatively on the ability of authorities to provide infrastructure such as transport systems, water, sanitation and proper care for the environment.
We must therefore work out strategies that take into account African dynamics to change the cities and towns, which are the centres of development, from being two worlds and strive for the integration of our societies.
The first step in this regard would be to unlock the economic and social potential that is currently buried in the areas at the periphery of the cities. We must change them into acceptable places for human occupation so that the very psychology of the inhabitants that is influenced by their surroundings changes and our people begin to develop respect for themselves and their surroundings.
I believe that spending our limited resources on reconstructing the townships and informal settlements that surround our cities can only have positive benefits for them. The spin-offs from the economic activity generated by the reconstruction process would address, to an extent, the environmental, social and crime issues.
Developing these areas in tandem with the cities would contribute towards job creation and make them attractive to the citizens thereby relieving pressure on the overpopulated cities.
While the focus of this conference is on urban development, I believe that one of the dynamics that we need to tackle in the African continent is the pronounced lack of development in the rural areas. We need to reverse the trend for people to move towards the urban areas by simultaneously developing the rural areas so that they are more economically viable and attractive for human settlement.
In the broader context the effect on human movement and settlement of the many conflicts that plague our continent is such that there is a dire need for us to deal with them decisively and we need to do this sooner.
As a continent we need to look at the stark reality that, much as the colonial era influenced our settlement patterns, our people are now being subjected to even greater instability that is to some extent of our own doing. We cannot have the current situation where some African countries are developing at a faster pace while the rest of the continent is locked up in conflict with the resultant exodus of skills from those countries.
Therefore if we engage our fellow Africans in finding solutions our reward will be more integrated regional and continent-wide development. Issues of xenophobia for example, would not be such a prominent part of our discourse in a context where natural gravitation meant that there was a more normal movement of people in all directions across the continent.
The solution in the long term can only be found in all the countries in our continent ensuring that they have in place a responsible and mature leadership. That they implement correct economic policies and that we maximise gains from our natural resources by developing capacity in manufacturing.
Ultimately the expansion of our economic base and the resultant general upliftment of the standard of life of ordinary people in both the rural and urban areas are, I believe the most critical ways of ensuring that we do away with the "two worlds in one" in our societies. Urbanisation, although a precondition for general socio-economic advancement, will not automatically bring about long term development.
I hope therefore that this conference has not been just another gathering and I hope that it will enhance the understanding of decision-makers at all levels as to how they can develop sustainable human settlements in the African context
I thank you