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COUNTRY STATEMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA DELIVERED BY MINISTER THEMBISILE SIMELANE AT THE HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL MEETING ON THE REVIEW OF PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW URBAN AGENDA

Human SettlementsRef: https://www.dhs.gov.za/sites/default/files/speeches/7%20Draft%20Country%20Statement%20-%20Minister%20Final%20%28003%29-2.pdf

Official source

Source domain: dhs.gov.za

Collected on 17 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

Our copy (archived 25 July 2026)Official source

What this means

This document is a draft country statement by South Africa, delivered by Minister Thembisile Simelane at a UN high-level political meeting in New York on 16 July 2026 to review progress on implementing the New Urban Agenda. South Africa aligns with the G77+China statement and reports that it has submitted its Second National Report on implementation, assessing progress, challenges, and priority actions. It highlights South Africa’s policy frameworks (including the NDP 2012–2030 and the 2016 IUDF), steps to strengthen local government and human settlements policy, and efforts to upgrade informal settlements, including improved planning, tenure security, and accelerated upgrading. The statement reaffirms commitments to SDG 11 and to Africa Urban Forum outcomes, including mainstreaming housing delivery and building partnerships across government, finance institutions, communities, civil society, and the private sector.

Facts

Reference

https://www.dhs.gov.za/sites/default/files/speeches/7%20Draft%20Country%20Statement%20-%20Minister%20Final%20%28003%29-2.pdf

Key Takeaways

  • Country statement: Republic of South Africa
  • Delivered by Minister Thembisile Simelane
  • UN high-level political meeting on review of progress in implementing the New Urban Agenda
  • Location and date: New York, 16 July 2026
  • South Africa submitted its Second National Report on Implementation of the New Urban Agenda
  • Reaffirms commitment to SDG 11 and full implementation of the New Urban Agenda
  • Policy frameworks cited: National Development Plan (2012–2030) and Integrated Urban Development Framework (adopted 2016)
  • District Development Model (DDM) introduced in 2019 to improve coordination between government spheres
  • References to reviewed/updated policy instruments: White Paper on Local Government and White Paper for Human Settlements; Draft White Paper on Local Government
  • Informal settlements upgrading programme expanded; focus on planning, tenure security, and accelerated upgrading
  • Alignment with Draft Political Declaration priorities: social inclusion, poverty eradication, improved access to basic services, transformation of informal settlements and slums
  • Africa Urban Forum commitment: mainstreaming housing delivery as integrated economic and social development; partnerships for scaling housing delivery
  • Thembisile Simelane
  • United Nations General Assembly
  • UN-Habitat
  • Uruguay
  • G77+China
  • Africa Urban Forum
  • District Development Model (DDM)
  • Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want
  • United Nations

Dates

Closing Date

16 July 2026