Talking Transformation

In this episode of the TTPod we look at the growth of backyarding and so-called, “micro" units within many urban areas of South Africa and the economic and accommodation opportunities they afford. Our research journey takes us to Gauteng and the Western Cape – to the banks of Alexandra, Johannesburg and the historic Orlando and Zola in Soweto. It brings us south to the Cape Flats, to Khayelitsha a...

In these troubling times, the Talking Transformation Podcast team remains committed to bringing you conversations from South Africa and beyond. In what we anticipate will become an ongoing and dynamic initiative we speak with professionals working around the globe and ask them to share their perspective and insights into the cities they are operating from.  Carli Venter and Herman Pienaar are...

There are many spatially transformative proposals in the plans and programmes of local government. National, provincial and local government are all committed - on paper at least - to “Spatial Transformation”. But what does it actually mean? Why is success of government frequently measured only in numbers – the auditors having an increasingly powerful role in the space and outcomes of municipaliti...

Today we are looking at issues of homelessness in our cities. This is the third episode of our "deep-dive" series: "We've GOT to talk about housing!" - 26 years and counting... We consider the challenges faced by the homeless, what circumstances can lead to this eventuality and what is being done to assist the homeless community by non-government organisations such as Super Troopers. Wherever in t...

In 2004, to the north of the Johannesburg’s urban fringe - a “peri-urban area” in old planning terms - the City of Johannesburg broke ground on the R3,5bn project: ComsoCity. It bookended ten years of democracy and the housing programme which had already delivered a million housing opportunities across the country. What makes and made Cosmo “special”? What did it take to bring this initiative to f...

The Talking Transformation Podcast conversations planned in the coming weeks are being scheduled as a “deep-dive” series of conversations with a wide variety of practitioners active in the South African housing field. We're looking back at the achievements and shortcomings of 26 years of implementation; considering  current challenges and looking ahead to the future of human settlements. In t...

It’s been a busy month of planning for the Talking Transformation Podcast.  We’ve taken a recording breather after the successful FutureCast panel collaboration with the Architects, Planners, Engineers and Surveyors society. If you haven’t yet caught that episode it makes for interesting listening. It was a very special event with passionate speakers and an audience who came out to Hout Stree...

Our most ambitious project yet! After four months of planning, the Talking Transformation Podcast, in collaboration with APES+ Society , brings you the inaugural “Talking Transformation FutureCast” episode.  In Cape Town’s Hout Street, on a warm summer’s evening, an enthusiastic and engaged audience of 60 guests gather to listen to a diverse panel of built environment practitioners. In the ho...

In this first TTPod episode of 2020 - and the new decade - we take a journey "Down Under" and discuss challenges - new and old - facing two built environment professionals who have transferred skills and perspectives from South Africa to Australia.   The loss of professional talent to the international market has become a major capacity constraint for both the public and private sector here in Sou...

It’s estimated that between 1990 and 2015 South Africa’s population grew from 37 million to 54 million.  Much of this growth located within towns and cities, driven by the economic and social opportunities afforded in these centres and followed the global trend of mass urbanisation. Post-1994, many of the South Africa’s towns and cities were – quite literally - bursting at the seams. Growth o...

We're headed towards the year-end and festive season as at a rapid rate and this November month has been light on content and episodes after a generally busy first four months of the Talking Transformation Podcast. We did celebrate a fascinating insight into the housing market here in SA and there’s a lot of recorded material from my UK travels which may find its way onto the podcast in the new ye...

For most of us a house is the most significant asset we can own. This is amplified for low income property-owning urban households where the affordable housing market offers significant wealth creating potential for beneficiary households. However, in this market the ability of households’ to realise value from their housing assets is frequently and significantly hampered by a number of challenges...

“If planners are not conscious [of food issues], then their impact is negative, not just neutral” ( Pothukuchi & Kaufman, 2000 ). With over 50% of South Africans estimated to be food insecure or at risk of food insecurity this episode of Talking Transformation is a timely wake-up call to all built environment activists and practitioners. Arguably a lesser-understood, “rural planning issue” thi...

In this episode of the Talking Transformation Podcast we revisit a theme we've touched on in previous episodes: smart / digital cities and the implications of the fourth industrial revolution or 4IR as it has become known. Listeners may recall that State President Ramaphosa talked about this in this in his 2019 State the Nation Address at Parliament a number of months ago.   The question...

In this bulletin we celebrate 1100+ listens over our starting 11 episodes - all in less than three "live months"! We reflect on September's three informative and engaging episodes and look to January 2020 and the "FutureCast" planned with our friends @ APES+ . We're really excited about this new collaboration. Learn how you can get involved and who has committed to being part of the panel looking...

In this episode of Talking Transformation we consider the work and findings of the Integration Syndicate, an initiative that took place in Cape Town under the auspices of the African Centre for Cities ( ACC ).  Our guest, Professor Edgar Pieterse , the founding director the ACC, reviews the method, approach and findings of the Syndicate that sought to explore the obstacles and practical solut...

How the public sector spends its money is increasingly being scrutinised by the public and private sectors alike.  Limited funds, flatlined economy, austerity: increasingly there’s a need to do more with less and demonstrate tangible value for money and impact within our communities To achieve this, and to address the complexity and the variables impacting on decision-making requires institut...

In this episode, we consider issues of mobility,  public transport and the role that technology can play in meeting the increasing challenges of movement in and around our towns and cities. The South African mobility landscape sees an estimated 15 million people dependent on minibus taxis every day as their commute mode. Then there’s the historic rail systems and “new wave” of bus routes – ty...

The Talking Transformation Podcast has been live for just short of two months. In that time we've published eight in-depth interviews with guests with a story to tell and lessons to be learnt. Listeners and interest have grown by the week on the back of some exceptional guests and the insights they've kindly shared. This short, sharp bulletin takes a quick look back at the last four episodes and l...

The issue of land reform in South Africa is arguably the most politically charged issue facing the country, its citizens and politicians charged with leading a transformation agenda. In October 2018, President Ramaphosa stated “…Our nation is focused on the effort to correct the original sin of land dispossession”, a month after he appointed an expert advisory panel on Land Reform and Agriculture....

In July 2019 the Socio-Economic Research Institute ( SERI ) published a series of research reports reflecting on three informal settlements: Ratanang in Klerksdorp, North West Province; Marikana in Philippi, Cape Town, Western Cape; and Siyanda in KwaMashu, eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal. Today’s Talking Transformation Podcast guest is SERI Senior Research and Advocacy Associate Lauren Royston who led t...

In today’s Talking Transformation Podcast we hear from three very different planning personalities (in order of appearance), Claus Rabe , Jaco Petzer and Eloise Rousseau . All share at least three things in common… They’re professional town planners by trade;  They’ve worked together in the  same metropolitan planning team; and  Each has had to consider alternative skills and approa...

A month ago State President Ramaphosa announced his ambition of a new city, connected to other cities by a bullet train and led, by the 4th industrial, tech revolution. Following this announcement via his state of nation address, commentators have applauded and scorned the ambition in equal measure.  This week I invited Dr Geci Karuri-Sebina to air her views on the matter. Geci is one of the...

The Talking Transformation Podcast has been live for two weeks now...  Since then I’ve had an overwhelming positive response to the episodes and personalities we’ve presented via the podcast platform.  Many thanks to each and everyone of you who has taken the time to listen and engage and encourage.  This short bulletin reflects on the last few weeks; the podcast content - past and...

Our special guest this episode takes us on a very different and compellingly tour of duty and service.  Jana El Horr - who was visiting South Africa and the Western Cape - recounts her own story from war torn Lebanon and Iraq to the US where she is now based.  Her skills and talents, as both an economist and peacemaker, are helping communities across the globe come to terms with the afte...