The dialogue brought together researchers, policymakers, district municipalities, traditional leaders, government departments, and other stakeholders to explore research on urbanisation processes in former homelands, land ownership, food security, governance, and economic development within the province.
Director of Research at UMP, Dr Naledi Nthite, said the platform aimed to showcase research on urbanisation in former homelands while creating opportunities for meaningful engagement between researchers, government, and communities.
“We invited different stakeholders to engage with the research findings and better understand how the studies can help shape policies that improve the lives of people in the province, particularly as much of the research focused on Mpumalanga,” she said.
Collaborative approaches to development
Discussions on the day also explored how municipalities, communal leaders, and traditional authorities can work together to support economic growth, job creation, infrastructure development, and equitable land distribution in communities across the province.
Professor Philip Harrison from Wits, whose research formed part of the broader study, spoke about the importance of influencing policy development and improving livelihoods in Mpumalanga communities.
One of the key case studies presented focused on the Moloto Corridor. Dr Ngaka Mosiane from the Gauteng City-Region Observatory highlighted the corridor’s role in shaping urban development and mobility within the region, revealing that approximately 50 000 commuters and more than 500 buses travel through the corridor daily, demonstrating its economic and social significance.
Her presentation also showed challenges related to safety, infrastructure, and economic opportunities along the corridor, with calls for improved planning and greater support for local entrepreneurship.
Professor Jennifer Robinson from University College London and Professor Sarah Charlton from Wits presented with a focus on Bushbuckridge Local Municipality as a site of rapid urbanisation, highlighting the municipality’s significant population growth and increasingly urban character despite ongoing socio-economic challenges such as unemployment and infrastructure backlogs.
Discussions explored ways for municipalities and communities to work together in support of economic growth and job creation.
UMP Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences, Dr Thembelihle Makhanya, emphasised the need for improved public transport infrastructure and collaborative land-use management to address urbanisation challenges and improve service delivery.
Ms Devashree Naidoo, Lecturer in Sociology at UMP, spoke on the importance of social justice and indigenous knowledge systems in development and urbanisation processes. She emphasised the need for inclusive and context-specific policies that recognise local governance traditions and community-based knowledge systems.
Representatives from the three district municipalities in Mpumalanga, the Office of the Premier, and several provincial departments attended the dialogue to engage with research-driven solutions and explore how evidence-based policy can contribute to sustainable development and improved service delivery.
Lecturer in the School of Development Studies at UMP, Ms Confidence Ndlovu, presented research on communal land and local food systems in Mpumalanga, which highlights the challenges faced by small-scale farmers, including limited agricultural support services, low incomes, and gender disparities in land allocation.
The dialogue emphasised the need for integrated urban development strategies and the recognition of Bushbuckridge as an emerging metropolitan region rather than a collection of isolated rural settlements.
The workshop concluded with a strong emphasis on the importance of research-driven dialogue in shaping policies that respond to the realities faced by communities in Mpumalanga while strengthening partnerships between academia, government, and local stakeholders.
Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures by JB Creative Cinema. Copyright © UMP.