Future Cities Africa podcast

Eleven clean audits. South Africa's best secondary city. The Western Cape's best municipality. Drakenstein doesn't talk about good governance - they just do it, year after year.

In this episode, City Manager Dr. Johan Leibbrandt unpacks the leadership, disciplines and culture that make consistent performance possible in one of South Africa's most recognised municipalities.

Presented by Business Engineering

Many of South Africa's municipalities are under enormous pressure - and most people in the sector know it.

Drawing on a paper he wrote titled The Logic of Local Government Finance, Anton Groenewald - Group Head of Regional Operations at the City of Tshwane and former municipal manager of both Swellendam and Midvaal - delivers one of the most direct and substantive accounts of why South African municipalities are failing, and exactly what it takes to fix them.

This episode is brought to you by PhoenixERP from Business Engineering.

Built on Values: Governance, Digital Transformation and a Vision for Bergrivier | Innovation in Local Government Series
Presented by Business Engineering | Future Cities Africa
Bergrivier Municipality in the Western Cape has achieved 10 consecutive clean audits, 10 consecutive funded budgets, and is one of only 40 municipalities in South Africa participating in the UN's voluntary SDG review process. But this conversation goes well beyond the numbers.
Municipal Manager Advocate Hanlie Linde unpacks what actually makes Bergrivier work - from financial discipline and digital transformation to an extraordinary 12-year partnership with a Belgian twin city, and a community vision built around prosperity and dignity for all.
WHAT WE COVER
On sustaining good governance
Bergrivier's foundation is three equal partners: the professional administration, an elected council that makes difficult long-term decisions, and an organised public that holds both accountable. Strong oversight structures, ethical values and a culture of service excellence are lived daily - not stated on a wall.
On digital transformation
When Hanlie joined in 2012, the municipality had 16 unintegrated systems. Today Bergrivier uses PhoenixERP as its core financial system and the Collaborator document management platform from Business Engineering for daily operations. A citizen-facing app has been rolled out across all nine towns, and an interdepartmental ICT committee drives the smart city agenda incrementally - because rural municipalities must bring their communities along, not leave them behind.
 
On the twin city partnership with Heist-op-den-Berg, Belgium
Running for 12 years, the partnership is built on reciprocity - both municipalities learn from each other. A seven-year Waste Ambassadors Programme brought world-leading recycling and composting skills to Bergrivier. In return, Bergrivier has taught Belgium about public participation. A biannual youth exchange sends 10 learners in each direction, giving young people from the poorest families experiences that would otherwise have been unimaginable.
On embedding the SDGs into municipal planning
Bergrivier is reporting on four SDGs: No Poverty, Water and Sanitation, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Each is underpinned by a baseline, SWOT analysis and KPIs mainstreamed into quarterly performance assessments. Public meetings in all nine towns ask residents directly which of the 17 SDGs matters most to them.
On Bergrivier's vision
"A prosperous community where all want to live, work, learn and play in a dignified manner." Prosperous means happy, safe and educated - not wealthy. Dignity means the one fifth of families registered as indigent are not left behind. The word "all" is intentional: everyone who commits to those values is welcome.
To investors: Bergrivier is open for business.
To other municipalities: it is three equal partners doing hard work every day with clear roles, strong values and a shared vision.

Key Themes from the Discussion
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Stakeholder Participation
Drawing from experience on cross-border projects like the Maputo Corridor, Hannes stresses that successful PPPs require early, genuine, and integrated stakeholder engagement (communities, businesses, government departments, media). It's not a one-way info dump - show willingness to adapt designs/processes based on feedback.
Address "what's in it for them" (e.g., subcontracting, jobs).
Harmonize legislation, operations, and processes across borders to avoid conflicts.
Communities are sophisticated (including professionals like engineers/lawyers); involve them respectfully to avoid resistance.
Direct, open, fact-based communication (including with media) builds the right perception and counters misinformation.



Innovative Approaches for Urban Resilience and Sustainability
Africa's rapid urbanization and congestion create big opportunities for smarter transport solutions.
Tolcon is evolving beyond traditional tolls/weighbridges/ITS to address emerging needs via its renewable energy and software companies.
Key innovations highlighted: Smart tolling (satellite-based, multi-lane free-flow, congestion/time-based pricing).
Integration with navigation apps (e.g., Google Maps/Waze) for incentives to avoid peak congestion.
Intelligent traffic management (adaptive traffic lights using real-time data).
These reduce unnecessary congestion, improve efficiency, and help make cities more competitive and sustainable while tackling infrastructure funding gaps.



Lessons for Future Urban Projects Proper project preparation is essential (feasibility studies, traffic/environmental assessments) to attract funders.
Strong project structure: Harmonize cross-border elements and create unified implementing authorities where possible (as in Maputo Corridor).
Prioritize local involvement for equitable benefits - make communities feel ownership, create jobs, and build local capacity rather than relying on external firms that "build and leave."



Tolcon's Excitement and Future Role
Hannes is optimistic about growing government willingness across Africa to develop infrastructure and close the competitiveness gap.
Tolcon wants to contribute by: Leveraging its deep African understanding and experience.
Delivering sustainable solutions with skill transfer, local employment/contractor use, and training - so countries become self-reliant.
Avoiding dependency; aim for projects where locals can operate independently after Tolcon exits.
This supports job creation, economic development, connected cities, and scalable transport corridors/urban mobility solutions.
The company is eager to participate in the expanding pipeline of African projects, especially ahead of events like Infrastructure Africa 2026.

Overview of Tolcon Group
Tolcon Group is a leading South African provider of transport infrastructure management services, operating since 1985 as an ISO-accredited company. It consists of six operating companies and specializes in:
Toll and weighbridge operations and maintenance
Freeway/intelligent transport systems
Route management and routine road maintenance
Toll system development and supply
Additional areas like renewable energy (solar) solutions, software development, and specialist electrical installations
The company has 40 years of experience in South Africa (e.g., managing contracts for SANRAL and private concessionaires) and is expanding into Africa, with an established presence in Zambia and active exploration in countries like Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. Tolcon positions itself as a trusted, integrity-driven African partner focused on sustainable growth, not just short-term projects.

Dive into the movement flipping Johannesburg's story from 'the city is finished' to 'watch this space'. In just two years Jozi My Jozi has lit up bridges, cleaned streets, built a full-size inner-city football field and signed a deal to revive the High Court precinct, all powered by citizens and smart partnerships.
Guest: Innocent Mabusela, Head of Stakeholder Relations and Communication at Jozi My Jozi
Host: Dan Claassen, Managing Director, Future Cities Africa