IN CONVERSATION WITH BONGANI MAIMELE

South African Public Officials to Learn from China’s City Governance Innovations The National School of Government (NSG) has organised a learning exchange programme on City Governance in collaboration with Beijing Jiaotong University, supported by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The programme runs from 7 to 27 July and is attended by South African public officials. This initiative aims to promote knowledge sharing on improving local government performance as municipalities grapple with increasing complexity and rising public expectations. The programme highlights China’s advancements in areas such as local government innovation, modern governance, smart city development, participatory governance, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development. Local government plays a crucial role in implementing national policies. China’s success in strengthening this sphere contributed to the eradication of absolute poverty in 2020, a full decade ahead of the 2030 target set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). South Africa has similarly committed to eliminating poverty and inequality by 2030 in its National Development Plan, which emphasizes harnessing the energy of its people, fostering inclusive economic growth, building capabilities, and enhancing state capacity through leadership and partnerships. The South African government’s 7th Administration prioritizes inclusive growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and addressing the high cost of living, with a capable and developmental state playing a central role. “Municipalities have a critical role to play in achieving these goals,” said NSG Principal, Prof. Busani Ngcaweni. He further explained that the City Governance exchange programme forms part of the NSG’s broader international efforts to equip public servants with specialist knowledge and skills that enhance public sector performance and development. Learning from the experiences of countries in both the Global South and North helps strengthen South Africa’s own development trajectory. Prof. Ngcaweni also emphasized the importance of partnerships: “They allow us to broaden the scope of training, increase diversity, and access expertise that may not be available locally.”