Welcome back to the Talking Transformation Podcast! We'redelighted to welcome back Tanya Zack, a renowned urban planner and author, joining us from Johannesburg.
Tanya first graced our podcast in February 2023 when shediscussed her book "Wake Up, This is Joburg!", a fascinatingexploration of inner-city Johannesburg urban landscape and the vibrant communities operating within that space.
In this episode, Tanya is here to talk about her latestbook, "The Chaos Precinct", set in the so-called, 'Ethiopian Quarter' in the inner city of Johannesburg, a vibrant area known for its cross-border shopping. This precinct, pioneered by Ethiopian migrants, has transformed theCBD’s office towers into bustling shopping centers filled with small, cupboard-sized shops.
These shops, which sell fast fashion, have repurposed whatwere once medical buildings into a thriving commercial hub. The book delves into the dynamic and ever-evolving urban spaces of Johannesburg, offering deep insights into the lives of the people who live and work there. It explores theeconomic potential of this area and the challenges faced by its inhabitants, providing a compelling narrative of transformation and resilience, policing and governance: identity and belonging.
This is the second book Tanya has discussed on the TalkingTransformation podcast, and we couldn't be more excited to hear about her latest work.
"The Chaos Precinct" promises to be another compelling read, offering deep insights into the dynamic and ever-evolving urban spaces of Johannesburg.
For those of you watching this via YouTube, you’ll also getto see some of the images included in the book, celebrating another collaboration with photographer Mark Lewis, our co-guest back in 2023 when we first discussed Joburg with Tanya.
Orders for "The Chaos Precinct", published byJacana Media, can be made via:
https://jacana.co.za/product/the-chaos-precinct-johannesburg-as-a-port-city/
Email the Talking Transformation Podcast ontalkingtransformation101@gmail.com
Find us on Bluse Sky @TTpod
Recorded: 17th July 2025
It's been a busy couple of months behind the scenes of the Talking Transformation podcast.
I've been eager to introduce a visual element to the podcast to highlight some of the rich visual imagery and products highlighted by our guests.
This has involved a lot of upskilling and learning on my part to ensure that what we produce is both fit for purpose and adds value to our listeners (soon to be listeners AND viewers!).
So, here it is, Series 5, Episode 1, and the first visual introduction to the TTPod’s first dual-medium podcast, featuring an interview with Wakamoso’s Dr. Melani Prinsloo and Mike Mathews.
This conversation is sure to inspire those who work with communities and data alike. We discuss how to harness the potential of communities and develop value and networks from their own data and information and starting to use that data commons to improve the understanding and the data available and strengthen the networks and value within that community.
I hope you'll enjoy the episode and the medium. If we’ve earned your subscription please do like, share and subscribe. Most importantly, enjoy the conversation and insights from Melani and Mike!
Find us on BlueSky via @TTpodThe audio version will still be available via all the usual podcast platforms including Apple, Spotify and Deezer.
For more information on Wakamoso - check out their excellent website via https://www.wakamoso.africa/
Recorded May 1st 2025
We follow up from our introductory episode with a second podcast episode featuring the planners who have worked as the head of the City of Johannesburg's Metro Planning unit 2000: Johan Olivier, Pete Ahmad, Nkateko Shipalana, Thandeka Mlaza-Lloyd and Minenhle Maphumulo.
These guests represent a straight line of succession from the inception of the metro in 2000. Their availability and willingness to share their experiences presents a unique opportunity to go deep into the themes and aspects of metro scale planning.
In this episode we consider some of the processes and plans that have become fundamentals of Johannesburg’s post-2000 planning frameworks and the rationale at that metropolitan scale.
We reflect on some of the matters and metrics that kept us up at night and touch on the tricky tightrope officials walk: trying, on the one hand to balance political imperatives and needs with sound planning norms and overarching regulatory requirements on the other. There are stories of hope and disappointment and many lessons to reflect on.
It's another engaging conversation and will be of interest to built environment professionals, young and old.
Regrettably, Dylan Weakley was unable to join us for this episode but we are looking forward to him rejoining the fold in the next conversation where we hope to deal with matters of spatial targeting, prioritisation and aligning the spatial plans to budgets.
Recorded 15th October 2024
The small-scale rental sector continues to gain momentum and prominence in discussions about city building and the required funding and infrastructure requirements to support this emerging property market, It’s also become a recurring theme on the Talking Transformation Podcast.
uMaStandi has been working in this space since 2018 and continue to render financial services for emerging developers providing rental accommodation. As an offshoot of the Trust for Urban Housing Finance – TUHF it has targeted finance in the townships to unlock the potential of an emerging property market and addressing low-density design of government sponsored housing initiatives across the countries – with a particular focus on South Africa's metros.
I am joined by uMaStandi Portfolio Manager Nomfundo Molemohi. responsible for the Western & Eastern Cape portfolio. We are joined by her client, SAPS detective by day and property developer by night, Lizwi Ntengeshe.
In this episode we deep-dive the approach and impact of this emerging market and the financial implications and opportunities afforded in the sector. What are the considerations of the funder and prospective client and what happens once the project has been green-lit and approved? It's a refreshing take on an emerging property sector and one that is undoubtedly shaping our communities across the country and providing much needed affordable rental opportunities for an underserved market.
Learn more about uMastandi via: https://umastandi.co.za/
Recorded: June 12th 2024
In this episode of the Talking Transformation Podcast, our subject is South Africa's National Spatial Development Framework (NSDF) - a long-term spatial plan that sets South Africa's spatial agenda and trajectory towards 2050. As a legally mandated plan via SPLUMA, it completes the "set" of government spatial plans adding to the provincial and municipal spatial development frameworks prepared over many years.
It also advances the ambitions and directives of the 2030 National Development Plan (NDP).
It's a critical document for South Africa outlining the ambitions, growth and transformation objectives for urban and rural areas in South Africa.
Zouna Meades and Rajesh Makan from the NSDF "champion", the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRD), give us their take on the document and an in-depth assessment of the plan's process, plan and core themes.
We also talk about the challenges of alignment and coherence across the spheres of government and seek to understand how planners and other built environment practitioners can embed the thinking and implementation aspects of the NSDF into their routines and work.
Access the NSDF via:
https://sacplan.org.za/wp-content/uploads/Booklet-NSDF.pdf
Watch the YouTube video via this link:
https://youtu.be/pQnaAKkUZUc?si=EiJ3pqCj-xtb_QGV
Recorded 2nd May 2024
In August last year we were delighted to work with the fledgling Now Now Competition that used the Cape Town stadium as a focal point for its inaugural design contest. In it's second iteration the Now Now contest has shifted focus within Cape Town from Green Point to Khayelitsha's Spine Road.
In this latest episode of the Talking Transformation Podcast, Sebestian Hitchcock - principal coordinator of the NowNow architecture competition - and I talk to two of the local entrepreneurs within Khayelitsha, Brian Bango a friend of the podcast and, for the first time Buntu Matole.
Spine Road is a critical arterial for Cape Town linking numerous communities within and beyond Khayelitsha. It links the sands of Strandfontein in Mitchells Plain, through Rocklands and beyond Mew Way. It is recognised as a vibrant heart of the community and famed for its party and nightlife when the sun goes down!
This episode unpacks some of the realities and aspirations for the road and the broader community from innovators in that space: Brian is a leading property developer and Buntu is a pioneer in the tourism field.
The episode is upbeat, inspiring, and provides an excellent opportunity for the curious and prospective competition entrants alike to learn more about the opportunities of the road and requirements of the contest.
Recorded: Wednesday, March 27th 2024
For our first recording of the year the Talking Transformation Podcast we are blending innovation, international and entrepreneurial flavours with our guest, Marlene Lerch co-founder of the "Dooiy" – Hack your Schack NGO.
Dooiy is a fledgling non-profit organisation from Germany that operates between Berlin and South Africa. I first met Marlene whilst working with the Ranyaka NGO team operating out of Stellenbosch last year. As you’ll hear, collaboration and partnership with other NGOs and agencies with similar values and perspectives is an essential part of their operations and key to the growth of Dooiy.
I was struck by the simplicity and effectiveness of “hacks” and devices that they promote via their Dooiy platform (https://dooiy.org/).
Whether it’s manufacturing soap, building a washing machine or DIY fire extinguishers, the products are designed to provide effective solutions for minimal cash outlays. There are also numerous guides to assist in the growing of vegetables and cooking tips to keep families healthy and diets nutrition-rich.
In addition to the health and safety benefits offered, Dooiy also seeks to provide young entrepreneurs with the chance to transform their own economic circumstances by manufacturing these items and on-selling within the community.
During the first days of an extended visit to South Africa I took the time to understand the approach and ambitions of Dooiy with Marlene. Her passion and enthusiasm for the platform, products, and communities she is working with make for a great way to kick start the first month of the year and I hope you’ll enjoy the episode as much as I did recording the episode and spending time with her.
Recorded 24th January 2024
2024 is an important year for South Africa that will - no doubt - see plenty of reflection on 30 years of democracy and consider the achievements of this democratic era and the perennial and future challenges facing communities across the country.
One of those perennial challenges remains the progressive realisation of housing for all – a quest that has shaped so much of the debate and policy-making since 1994. So, it’s perhaps fitting that it’s a theme that kicks off our 2024 as we consider a newly released book: "Housing in African Cities - A Lens on Urban Governance".
Covering six countries and eight different cities across the continent the book presents a series of housing themes and agendas - from Inclusionary Housing in Cape Town to the walk-up housing typologies of Fleurhof, Johannesburg.
In this TTPod episode, editorial team, Dr. Margot Ruben, Dr. Sarah Charlton, Dr. Neil Klug reflect on the contributions made. What themes were important and how do some of those themes echo (or not!) some of the thinking going into a new White Paper on Human Settlements?
Happy New Year to all Talking Transformation Podcast listeners!
Recorded 18th December 2023
I was first made aware of the unique building typologies in the Blue Downs area in the early 2020s. Central Blue eState and eHousing units certainly didn’t look like a conventional affordable housing project or subscribe to many of the unit design concepts I’m familiar with. I’ve been intrigued by the thinking behind the units and the design ever since.
When I met the Managing Director and Co-founder of Citra South Africa, Joel Bauer on site a couple of months ago and he confessed to being a listener to the podcast, I invited him and members of the team to reflect on the Citra journey and development philosophy. What exactly was different and how does their thinking challenge the convention and principles of many affordable housing projects? How can those approaches translate into efficiencies and savings in costs to keep costs low and the selling price within reach of their target markets? This detailed conversation covers all of that and more, including an inspirational genesis story and reflections on the numerous challenges faced by a fledgling construction company that has a specific identity and construction process that didn’t quite fit the mould.
Recorded 1st December 2023
Welcome to the latest episode of the Talking Transformation Podcast released on World Town Planning Day, the 8th of November 2023.
It's a great way to celebrate this initiative with this latest episode, as we pick up on a familiar TTPod theme: the issue of state-owned land - in this instance, properties owned by Transnet - and the opportunity to build and renew our existing cities.
My guest is the distinguished academic, Professor Ivan Turok who last week published an Op-Ed titled: "Transnet should sell its surplus land to unlock housing and jobs." It was an article widely circulated on social media and professional circles.
Ivan wrote that such a move could release funds to invest in operational improvements and unlock strategic sites for development addressing on the one hand, the financial sustainability for those organisations that are in financial distress AND maximising the city building opportunities of using strategic owned land portions that are not core assets. In effect, it's talking about a win-win for the agencies and cities more generally!
It remains a really important subject that should remain central to our thinking on a day World Town Planning Day.
What DOES it mean when we are unable to leverage and maximize the benefit of state assets in great locations?
How does that become more urgent and more pressing when those same agencies are requesting financial handouts?
What WILL it take to see the momentum shift?
Ivan has some compelling answers to these questions - I hope you enjoy the insights and the episode. Recorded Monday 6th November, 2023
In this second of the Talking Transformation Podcasts recorded at the ESRI Southern Africa User Conference, we are joined by three highly innovative and motivated individuals:
Vhuyo describes his journey from rural South Africa to urban professional and GIS practitioner: a truly inspiring conversation and one that celebrates both the individual and the benefits of an internship programme growing future GIS practitioners.
ESRI Hackathon winner, Pearl Maluleke reflects on her award winning solution addressing the optimisation of routes and ensuring equity in service delivery within Johannesburg's waste management space.
And last, but certainly not least Tshidi Morabi: an experienced IT practitioner explains the STEAM 4 Kids initiative that builds coding and robotics competence and skills within young children.
These were the three speakers who inspired me most in a packed and innovative program that inspired and encouraged all in attendance. I hope you'll enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it.
Recorded 26th October 2023
After a welcome break from comms, welcome back to the Talking Transformation Podcast and the first of two episodes recorded at the Esri Southern Africa GIS user conference in the Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal during the week of the 23rd of October.
As somebody who's used Geographic Information System (GIS) extensively over my career as a town planner - mostly in the municipal or metropolitan planning space - it's almost impossible to imagine a world without GIS being a major contributor to the policies that shape our cities and the evidence base that can convince decision-makers to take well-informed decisions.
In this first episode, we hear from ESRI staff and conference organisers talking about the "Connecting Community" theme of the conference, and the welcome return to an in-person conference arrangement after the COVID challenges.
We'll also hear about advances in technology and specific highlights from the busy program that each of the ESRI team picked.
Our guests on this episode are, in order of appearance:
Watch out for our second episode that switches attention to two of the younger GIS users reflecting on the YES internship Programme and hackathon competitions run by ESRI. In addition, we'll look at the inspirational STEAM coding for kids initiative: my own highlight of the conference!
Recorded 24th and 26th October 2023
In this episode of the Talking Transformation Podcast, we engage with four of the collaborators behind the inaugural NowNow architecture competition - https://www.nownowcompetition.com/.
It's a unique and new take on the opportunities afforded by a new sporting event in the Cape Town calendar - Formula E racing - and a brief to design a sustainable and functional pavilion for the event.
How could such a piece of infrastructure, the pavilion, work to foster integration and connection between different parties whilst responding to the obvious functional requirements of spectator seating and other event uses?
In another episode, Dr. Dean Allen talked about the legacy of the FIFA World Cup in South African. Opinions remain split on what that legacy was and how the stadia and public transportation infrastructure from that era has emerged a decade later.
This conversation tackles something that is emerging and exciting for the future. What could the legacy be? What are the factors the competition organisers are wanting entrants to respond to?
You'll hear from four collaborators behind the competition: why they've chosen this event and what they hope to achieve. You'll also understand who they hope to inspire and encourage to enter the contest.
Although all our guests have African heritage, the episode finds them spread across the European and African continents. It's encouraging to learn of these young professionals' passion for the issues of transformative infrastructure and for South Africa in general.
Recorded: Tuesday, 2nd August 2023
We conclude the Talking Transformation Podcast mini-series recorded at the City of Cape Town’s Civic Centre discussing the scales of planning on show during the EXPO.
We talk to the metro spatial planning team - setting the broad citywide spatial framework including the policy and strategy components. We discuss foundations of that scale of planning including the city’s land use model and spatial costing tools and trends reporting.
The district level planning interprets that citywide message via defined city districts. The Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act requires a greater emphasis on implementation and linkages to infrastructure planning and capital investment. We hear from the district team how they have adapted to those requirements in the newly adopted District plans and how public engagement has shaped those products.
We also hear from the UPD team members working on the ground directly via capital project and pilot sites where integrated planning across departments is needed to implement and realise the city’s goals and enhance and expand community infrastructure.
It’s a rich conversation with committed and experienced professionals who are honest in their reflections on the strengths and weaknesses of approaches and the challenges they face. It makes for a compelling and fascinating conclusion to our series.
Recorded: August 1st 2023
We are straight into our second of three Talking Transformation Podcast conversations recorded at the City of Cape Town’s Spatial Planning and Urban Design exhibition that took place between July 27th and August the 2nd.
In our first episode we heard from the management and organisation teams from the City’s Planning and Urban Design department.
In this second episode we shift our focus to the voices of the tertiary school participants, the lecturers and students who took part and exhibited in the programme.
The expo platform allowed the students to test some of their practical observations and present to broader and more diverse audience than might normally be the case in class.
The participants introduce themselves and their institutions including UWC, UCT, CPUT and Stellenbosch Universities. Thanks to all of them for taking the time to reflect and share their thoughts.
Recorded: 1st August 2023
This Talking Transformation Podcast mini-series differs slightly from our usual approach. The episodes that follow canvass the thoughts and perspectives of participants in the City of Cape Town’s Spatial Planning and Urban Design exhibition that has been taking place between July 27th and August the 2nd.
On August the 1st I spoke with many of the participants on a day that focused on inputs from tertiary institutions in the planning and urban design disciplines.
What was particularly encouraging was the use and transformation of the public space within the Civic Centre from an echoey and soulless corridor to a vibrant and engaging place of engagement. This is where the public and officials have engaged and exchanged thoughts about transforming rebuilding and enhancing Cape Town.
In this first episode we hear from the management and organising team. What is it they were wanting to achieve and how they went about establishing the four-day programme.
You’ll hear from those responsible for compiling and implementing the spatial plans of Cape Town and how they are thinking about engagement with the public and how to expand the reach and scope of engagement and analysis tools.
In this first introductory episode, we hear from Rob McGaffin Executive Director for the Spatial Planning and Environment Directorate, Erika Naude, Director of the Urban Planning and Design Department, Annelise de Bruin, Manager Metropolitan Spatial Planning and organisers Thandeka Kabeni and Ashely Hemraj from the Urban Planning and Design Department.
In future episodes we’ll hear not only from the other units presenting at the expo but also the students and lecturers who provided the basis of day three’s engagement.
Recorded: 1st August 2023
Two episodes ago the Talking Transformation Podcast considered the genesis story of NGO, Development Action Group's Contractors and Developers Academy (CDA).
In this episode we reconnect with the theme of micro development with two members of the CDA and two academy participants and graduates: developer Luvo Mayaphi and contractor Brian Bango. Both share an Eastern Cape heritage and reflect on their transformative experience here in the Western Cape working in the small-scale rental sector.
These are inspiring stories from inspirational individuals who are helping shape the sector through their individual business pursuits and collective activism as members of the fledgling umbrella body: the township development forum.
It's a special episode that clearly demonstrates the energy and potential of the sector and the passion of the participants.
There's a clear message for the financial sector and big funders: "get involved and get informed" about the shifting dynamics and opportunities in the township property market.
Recorded: Saturday 8th July 2023