Overview

Participants at the event will have the opportunity to actively contribute to the development of key assumptions, which will be integrated into the scenario planning process for the City’s future spatial and land use growth. The scenarios will be examined through six core thematic areas:

• Planning (Who are the future citizen of Cape Town and how should we be planning with them?)
• Infrastructure
• Urban Mobility
• Human Settlements
• Economy
• Environment

A link to the Indaba materials, along with instructions on how to submit your comments, is provided below.

Your input will be used to inform:

• The update of the Land Use Model (LUM). The LUM is an estimate of future urban form, density and intensity of land uses used in long-term infrastructure planning and uses historical trends;
• The review of the City’s spatial plans, the Municipal Spatial Development Framework (MSDF) and the eight District Plans; and
• Influence (where relevant) a change in the City’s operations.

Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with key leaders and industry experts in the City’s Built Environment, including:

• the City’s sector departments;
• the Intergovernmental Steering Committee (including provincial departments and neighbouring municipalities);
• relevant state-owned entities;
• non-government organisations;
• academia; and
• industry experts in property development, businesses and related fields.

Planning Indaba, Day 1:

Synopsis

Attendees will hear from representatives of the City, the private sector, NGOs, and academic institutions as they share insights on how the City’s vision is spatially interpreted within their respective fields in the built environment. The day's discussions will also explore forward-looking trends and data that inform the Land Use Model. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a scenario planning exercise designed to foster collaborative thinking.

Panellists

• Rob McGaffin, Executive Director: City of Cape Town Spatial Planning and Environment Directorate
• Erika Naude, Director: Urban Planning and Design
• Hugh Cole, Director Policy and Strategy/Lucille Janssens, Manager: Strategic Planning
• Deon van Zyl, Western Cape Property Development Forum (WCPDF)
• Associate/Prof François Viruly, Urban Real Estate, Research Unit (URERU), University of Cape Town (UCT)
• Prof Nancy Odendaal, African Centre for Cities, UCT 
• Zama Mgwatyu, Development Action Group (DAG)

Presenters

• Kayleen Simpson, Manager Research
  Presenting on: Residential Growth Estimates
• Paul Court, Manager Economic Research
  Presenting on: Non-Residential Growth Estimates (economy, labour and sectoral growth)
• Bradley Burger, Manager: Planning and Development
  Presenting on: Community Facilities Growth Estimates 
• Wesley Vorsatz, Chief Town and Regional Planner
  Presenting on: Western Cape Education Department Education Facilities 
• Graham Nevin, Chief Civil / Structural Engineer
  Presenting on: Western Cape Government Health and Wellness Facilities 

Scenario Planning Facilitators

• Annelise de Bruin, Manager Metropolitan Spatial Planning and Urban Growth Management
• Nick Graham, Infrastructure Specialist, Private sector
• Nigel Titus, Manager District Spatial Planning and Mechanism
• Prof Tanja Winkler, Lecturer, University of Cape Town, School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics

Planning Indaba, Day 2:

Synopsis

Day two of the Indaba will expand on the discussions from day one, but the focus will be on the built environment thematic areas, including:

• infrastructure;
• transport;
• human settlements;
• economy, planning and environment;
• trends driving and informing the planning for each thematic area; and
• the City’s position on these thematic areas.

Participants will have the opportunity to contribute by analysing the data presented, identifying potential gaps, highlighting opportunities, offering creative solutions, and developing assumptions that will inform the scenario planning for the future growth of Cape Town.

Presenters

• Dr Katherine Hyman, Head: Infrastructure Planning
• Neil Slingers, Director: Transport Planning and Network Management
• Lawrence Valeta, Director: Human Settlements
• Lance Greyling, Director: Economic Development and Investment
• Dr Belinda Verster, Lecturer, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
• Lorraine Gerrans, Director: Environmental Management

Innovation Exhibition

The Indaba will also include an exhibition, where City departments and other organisations will have the opportunity to showcase their key projects.

Stay connected

Follow us on the following social media channels for the latest updates, news and insights:

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#UPDPlanningIndabaCT #CityofCapeTown #PlanningIndaba2025

Submit your comments

Download and view the Planning Indaba presentations:

Submit your input, comments and suggestions via the following channels:

Online

• Comment on the three growth estimate presentations
• Comment on the six core thematic areas

Email

Email your written comments related to the Planning Indaba to Future.CapeTown@capetown.gov.za.

Contact us

• General enquiries: thandeka.kabeni@capetown.gov.za 
• Media relations: media.account@capetown.gov.za

Document downloads

• 1. Planning Indaba and Exhibition Speaker Biographies

     07/03/2025, List - 2.6 MB

  2. UPD Planning Indaba 2025: Day 1 Afternoon Session Presentation

     11/03/2025, Presentation - 1.6 MB

  3. UPD Planning Indaba 2025: Day 1 Morning Session Presentation

     11/03/2025, Presentation - 52.3 MB

  4. UPD Planning Indaba 2025: Day 2 Afternoon Session Presentation

     11/03/2025, Presentation - 8.6 MB

  5. UPD Planning Indaba 2025: Day 2 Brunch Session Presentation

     11/03/2025, Presentation - 11.3 MB

  6. UPD Planning Indaba 2025: Day 2 Morning Session Presentation

     11/03/2025, Presentation - 9.7 MB

  7. Urban Planning and Design Departments (UPD) 2025 Planning Indaba and Exhibition Programme

     10/03/2025, Programme plan - 1.7 MB