Chairperson

Moderator of the Panel

Members of Panel

Delegates in attendance

Ladies and Gentleman

Let me appreciate the opportunity to participate in this summit and also this plenary on diversity. The discussions at this summit have indeed been eye opening and important. We will take from this discussions best practices and resolution that will further enhance our plans and strategies.

Migration

Migration is a global phenomenon which has been constantly shaping economies and societies and it has been the process by which different ethnic, cultural, language, religious and groups have come into contact and thus presented both migrants and host communities with many challenges. Global international migration is increasing exponentially not only in scale but also in the types of mobility and the cultural diversity of groups involved in that movement. As a result more nations and communities will have to cope with increased levels of social and cultural diversity.

The African continent is not left behind as it is a key player in the global transition to predominantly urbanised world, with an urban population that is forecasted to reach 2.5 billion by 2050 (UNDESA, 2018).

South Africa, like other countries continue to experience increasing levels of migration either internal migration or external. In the era of globalisation, the potential for such mixing has reached higher and as such challenges of coping with diversity are increasing. Migrants are often perceived and regarded with suspicion by receiving communities, especially those from foreign countries.

Migration is a major part of the urbanisation phenomena which is caused by a number of factors like, poverty, economic opportunities, etc. In South Africa, the post-apartheid era has also seen migration from poorer provinces to more established ones, and from rural areas to the major cities and secondary cities, where there are better opportunities.

It is clear when you look at some of the reasons for migration that the socioeconomic imbalances and opportunities has led to unstable communities. It is imperative that we look at what the main city-making dynamics are and how good urban governance can contribute to limiting divides, creating commonalities between people.

Diverse Cities

Out of migration emerges diverse cities which has brought to our doorsteps the need for urban redevelopment that stimulates physical and social heterogeneity. This should be cities that makes it possible to ensure multiple uses, thus promoting economic and social diversity.

Sustainable Development Goal 11 explicitly provides a role for cities in actively protecting and promoting tolerance and respect for different cultures. Promoting and protecting cultural diversity is key in the South African context due to its broad racial, ethnic, and religious composition. This need is further intensified by the increasing migration to cities. This shows that the promotion and protection of diversity should be central to the development agenda of any country.

South Africa is known as the “rainbow nation”, because of its rich diversity in terms of race, religion, cultural and ethnicity. Major cities in South Africa accommodate approximately 63.7% of the interprovincial migration that takes place in the country, this shows that these people are not confined by space (Mkwanazi, 2019).

South Africa’s cultural diversity is also heightened by the influx of immigrants from different parts of the world seeking for better opportunities. Between 2011 and 2016 net migration of black Africans to South Africa was 940 352 people, and a further 1.1 million was expected between 2016 and 2021 (South African Gateway, 2018).

Diversity in cities is becoming the new normal which in some cases creates a normal city life. The challenge is that opportunities are not equally distributed in diverse cities. People living in cities share a space hence the need for government to the create a public space that help to create a harmonious urban environment.

South Africa has a rich and varied cultural heritage with a great potential to facilitate and promote social cohesion and sustainable development. Increased migration and diversity present a great opportunity for cities development as commercial and cultural centres.

Therefore, cities must begin to develop strategies for recruiting high skilful migrants and have them integrated with socio-economic networks of the region.

Failure to develop strategies to manage migration, tensions within a community attributed by different value systems might lead to conflicts which will ultimately impact on the development of cities. Conflicts have a potential of disrupting communities, increasing urban safety concerns in cities, and thereby affecting sustainable development agenda.

Role of cities and local governments in enhancing diversity

The cities of the future will be fully a “melting pot,” in which diversity is the order as various interests, skills, people, cultures, traditions and ethnicities come together to form a rich community in the city. Therefore, guided by Goal 11 from the SDGs which speaks to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, it is important to note that diversity of multi-cultures tend to see at various immigrant groups “melt together,” abandoning their individual cultures and eventually becoming fully assimilated into the predominant society. This confirms that, if well-planned and managed, urban development can be sustainable and can generate inclusive prosperity. In relation to the two broad purposes of urban policy stimulating growth and achieving equity it is now claimed that ensuring diversity is key.

According to this view, diversity attracts human capital, encourages innovation, and ensures fairness and equal access to a variety of groups. Indeed, by this logic, the competitive advantage of cities, and thus the most promising approach to attaining economic success, lies in enhancing diversity within the society, economic base, and built environment.

South Africa is committed to promoting cultural diversity and this is evidenced by the fact the country is a signed the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions 2005 and Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972. In addition to these important instruments, South Africa is also committed to Agenda 2063, which aspire “Africa with a Strong Cultural Identity Common Heritage, Values and Ethics”. All these instruments are key to the sustainable development agenda because they implore countries to include diversity in their local and national policies. South Africa is ahead of the pact, the country introduced the Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF), a national urban policy premised on SDG 11. Through the IUDF the country is in a better position to harness culture as a resource for achieving sustainable urban development and management.

In South Africa, local governments play a key role in managing cultural diversity as outlined in the South African Constitution of 1996. In addition, the principles of co-operative governance outlined in Section 41 of the South African Constitution oblige of spheres of government to promote and protect the wellbeing of people of South Africa when discharging their roles and responsibilities. This shows that local government have an important role to play in advancing social and cultural aspects of sustainable development.

Local governments must integrate the promotion of cultural diversity in their development policies and strategies. Cities must start positioning themselves in the global agenda by adopting policies that promote the recognition and respect of diverse cultural beliefs and activities. Cities must actively participate in the urban agenda “to make cities sustainable, inclusive and safe”.

The New Urban Agenda advocates for the embracing of diversity and encourages local governments to promote a peaceful co-existence within a society attributed by diverse cultures. Embracing differences, communities can co-exist peacefully. This will contribute to making cities safer for everyone and assisting in the realisation of SDG 11. Cities must leverage urbanisation as a tool for sustained and inclusive socio-economic and cultural development. Local government as the government closer to the people can contribute to towards cultural inclusivity by raising awareness within their jurisdiction on the importance of respecting diverse cultural expressions. 

The deep inequalities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other cascading crises

highlight the importance of sustainable urban development. Strengthening the preparedness and resilience of cities is crucial in responding to future crises.

Conclusion

Building on the new agenda emphasizes a holistic approach to achieving sustainable development for all. We clearly need a renewed commitment on the implementation of the SDGs to ensure that we are all on track.

One of the defining features of our national symbols as a nation (South Africa) the coat of arms bears the phrase from the Khoisan language which reads “! ke e: /xarra //ke” which translates to “Diverse people unite” – as a prerequisite for building an inclusive and prosperous nation we need to embrace each others cultures and traditions.