What Does “Smart City” Mean For African Municipalities?

There is an imperative that African cities are resilient, able to accommodate and manage the population influx. Herein, Smart Cities are perceived as facilitators for sustainable development. Furthermore, the Constitution of South Africa requires that basic services are prioritised for all, as everyone has the right to basic services. The question is therefore posed how can Smart City concepts be implemented within the African context, and should these concepts be considered at this time?

This paper investigates the drivers for Smart City implementation within African municipalities. The Smart City concept in this paper is considered to include African cities, towns and townships.

The paper aims to indicate that despite the adoption of the Smart City concept globally, there are key sectors within African local governments which would unlock the adoption of the Smart City concept to realise sustainable, resilient, efficient cities of the future.

Abstract based directly on original source.