Leadership in establishing the Gauteng City-Region : the case of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality

Abstract

City-regions have increased in many developed countries as the primary political and administrative units to drive development and growth at a sub-national level. The Gauteng Province has all the hallmarks of an ideal city-region given its dominant role in the South African economy. The study examined the efforts of the City of Tshwane in facilitating the realisation of a Gauteng City-Region (GCR) by responding to the primary research question: “Leadership in establishing the Gauteng City-Region: the Case of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality”. In the quest to respond to the primary research question, a qualitative research study was adopted and the case study method was utilised. Four case studies were selected on the following basis: replicability, innovation, and potential impact in realising the GCR. The lessons which emanated from the case studies were utilised to propose interventions necessary to realise the GCR. The study revealed that misaligned planning cycles; lack of enabling legislation, and a poor record of implementation track record were selected impediments to the GCR. The study formulates policy and provides recommendations on public leadership aimed to facilitate the realisation of the GCR. It is comprehensively concluded that the City of Tshwane has contributed meaningfully towards advancing the prospect of the GCR.