Pretoria – Cabinet has welcomed the outcomes of the first-ever Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) Conference on Demarcation and Spatial Transformation, which took place from 23 - 24 June 2016.
The conference was convened under the theme: “Reviewing the Past and Mapping the Future”. It focused on key issues related to demarcation and examined the challenges facing the metropolitan system of governance as well as the necessity of defining wards every five years.
“The role of ensuring sustainable municipalities came under the spotlight as an integral part of the demarcation process. Contributions from the conference will continue to shape the development and implementation of demarcation and spatial development policies,” Cabinet said in statement after its fortnightly meeting.
UN Habitat III
Cabinet also confirmed its support for the Common African Position on the Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urbanisation (Habitat III), which will be held by the General Assembly of the United Nations in Quito, Ecuador, from 17 - 20 October 2016.
“Habitat III aims to secure a renewed global commitment to addressing housing and sustainable urbanisation for the next 20 years through the adoption of a forward-looking, action orientated outcome agreement.
“This forms the basis for South Africa’s negotiating position. Consultations are ongoing to inform a South African Habitat III outcome position document,” Cabinet said.
South Africa also contributed to the international preparations by hosting a Habitat III Thematic Conference on informal settlements in April 2016, held under the theme “Leading change in the City: From slums to integrated, safe, resilient and sustainable human settlements”.
The Pretoria Declaration was adopted after this conference as a formal input into the Habitat III draft outcome document. – SAnews.gov.za
