Urban growth and identity are intertwined with security in complex and conflicting ways. This episode explores the dual nature of urban security: a necessary public service that's often politicized and can exacerbate inequity. Security measures, while aiming to protect, sometimes marginalize vulnerable communities and widen social divides. In this episode Dr. Joseph Ochugwu (Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution) and Dr. Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits (International Institute of Social Studies Erasmus University of Rotterdam) sit with moderator Mandipa Ndlovu (Africa Studies Centre Leiden) to unpack the challenges cities face in balancing safety with inclusivity. Together they examining how the politics of security shape urban landscapes and lived experiences.