Brexit and International Terror Attacks Among Issues Discussed at UKZN Roundtable Discussions

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The global economic effects of Brexit, terror attacks, and the violent protests in Tshwane and Durban were among issues debated at a round table discussion held at UKZN’s School of Management, Information Technology and Governance.

Also on the agenda at the event, led by the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), Dr Carl Wright, was the outcomes of the recent CLGF Southern Africa Regional Conference which examined the framework for localising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the work done by CLFG and its members on local economic development (LED) of 15 pilot programmes undertaken in South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland and Zambia.

During the discussions, attended by UKZN staff and provincial municipal practitioners, Wright shared insights on the turmoil and global implications caused by the United Kingdom referendum on European Union membership, and the resulting political fragmentation and extremist attacks which led to the killing of UK Member of Parliament, Jo Cox.

Also debated were the recent brutal terrorist attacks in Brussels, Paris, Orlando and Istanbul.

 ‘All of these have a large impact on any assessment of the global progress of the SDGs. Global instability could have a major implications for our ability to meet the ambitious targets set under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change,’ said Wright.

Wright confirmed that the Forum wanted to work closely with UKZN and the eThekwini Municipality in developing the necessary conceptual and intellectual toolboxes or toolkits to help its members set, monitor and implement local SDG targets.

‘Most of the SDGs and their detailed targets simply represent what local government is already doing. Localising the SDGs will therefore entail linking the implementation of existing local government competencies to SDG implementation rather than the other way around,’ he said.

‘We expect that the forthcoming Habit III conference in October will result in the adoption of a New Urban Agenda. The Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network, of which eThekwini is an active and founding member, and which had its first meeting last year and will meet again in London this month, is an important vehicle to realise these aims.’

Discipline of Public Administration academic, Professor Purshottama Reddy, who facilitated the meeting, said the information sharing sessions were important.

‘We might be working in different sectors of life but we live in one locality and are affected by the functionality of municipalities and the quality of service delivery,’ said Reddy. ‘The challenge we have is to understand LED processes and the sustainability of LED initiatives and management in promoting economic growth, job creation and alleviating poverty. We can have the best legislation in place but it won’t work without a strong political will. It is important to have such platforms where we can talk about these issues and share ideas.’

Thandiwe Jumo