to rural poverty that converts them into a point for transit of poor population looking for services, education and employment opportunities.
Notwithstanding the reasons for establishment, internationally, intermediary cities are facing a number of challenges which include:
particularly in developing countries, poor and insufficient planning practices and instruments to face the challenges of growth and change lack of financial resources for addressing backlogs and growing the infrastructure base to absorb urbanisation pressures financial dependence often on national budget limited capacity and administrative challenges unstable and conflict ridden political structures in Africa Impact of climate change and the need for improving the management of urban growth and development.
Political positioning of intermediary cities in Africa “Intermediary cities get a sense of importance from this workshop. They understand that they matter and deserve attention.” /Soobs Moonsammy, Head of Planning, Durban, eThekwini/
“South African intermediary cities should not look like districts. We are making efforts to negotiate to upgrade on the level 5 to 4 classification.” /Cllr Ricardo Mthembu, Mayor of KwaDukuza/
“Many African cities are characterised by a legacy of colonialism and conflict and this has in many ways created massive spatial fragmentation” /Sara Hoeflich, Programme Manager, UCLG/
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