Abstract
The ‘smart cities concept’ has emerged as a defining and dominant discourse
in urban planning. This discourse has permeated through to most
South African metropolitan cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Nevertheless, the question remains, do we really need smart cities in South
African and other cities in Africa mired in poverty and inequality juxtaposed
with wealth and un-paralleled information and communications infrastructure?
This study argues that although the smart cities concept is a
noble and viable approach, it often leads to undesired outcomes in South
Africa because urban managers have hastily applied the smart futures approach.
Moreover, what the people really want is not smart cities but an
end to poverty, inequality and poor living conditions. If this drive towards
smart cities continues unabated it will further entrench spatial segregation
and inequality which where the hallmarks of apartheid planning in South
Africa. Perhaps what is needed is a rethink of the smart cities concept, one
that has been readapted and redefined to suit South Africa and developing
countries in general, rather than imitating the developed world. A smart
city strategy that meets citizen’s needs is also needed.