In this exclusive interview with AFRIK 21, the Mayor of Cape Town himself praises the achievements of South Africa’s most beautiful city, which is also the most modern and smartest on the continent. Geordin Hill-Lewis, who administers 4 million Captonians on a daily basis, talks about the energy and climate challenges he has been fighting to overcome since 2021. The experienced politician only 37 years old, who is expected to attend the Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES 2024) from February 21 to 23, also talks about the importance of investing massively in the ecological transition. This will undoubtedly be one of the priorities of the man who aspires to become President of the Republic of South Africa “one day”.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi : Is it good to live in Cape Town today? What makes this city of over 4 million inhabitants so special?
Geordin Hill-Lewis : We are a city of immense potential. It is an exciting time (currently, editor’s note) to live in Cape Town as a leading city for innovation on green energy, water security, and environmental sustainability in response to climate change.
The Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES) organized by the Vuka’s giant events group opens on 21 February 2024. What message will you be sending to the investors and political decision-makers who will be in your city?
Geordin Hill-Lewis : The City of Cape Town is the best place on the African continent to make your green economy investments. We have a range of services dedicated to investors and ease of doing business initiatives.
“More and more global companies are investing in Cape Town, creating new jobs for more people in our city”, you said recently on your X account (Twitter), following a visit to the American Chamber of Commerce. What are the hottest sectors and types of business in your city at the moment?
Geordin Hill-Lewis : Various sectors offer really excellent growth potential right now in Cape Town : Tech, Green Economy, Business Process Outsourcing, the Ocean economy (the blue economy), Tourism, Film, and more.
Cape Town is often ranked (notably by the American magazine Forbes) as the “smartest” city on the continent. How can digital technology accelerate the transition to greener local economies?
Geordin Hill-Lewis: We are making it easier for people to invest in small-scale embedded generation, and are endorsing technologies that align with our electrical grid infrastructure.
Going forward, the City’s design of new and upgraded precincts and neighbourhoods will promote energy efficient lifestyles, energy efficient service delivery and opportunities for the deployment of larger-scale renewable energy.
This is aside major investments in cutting-edge waste water treatment technology, and innovative means of protecting the natural environment against urban pollution.
Are you involved in the green bond and carbon credit rush like other major cities? If so, what is at stake for you in using these green economy mechanisms? Do you have municipal staff trained in this area?
Geordin Hill-Lewis : Yes, to date the City has received a total of 241 511 credits issued by the CDM (United Nations mechanism), with a potential revenue value of R24,2 million, or $1.2 million. Council resolved to auction these off.
The credits were generated by Landfill gas-infrastructure has been installed at various Landfill sites.
During the three days of the Summit, sustainable waste management will be discussed. Is there any news on the project to build a biogas plant at the Vissershok landfill site, which was announced a few years ago? Is this a local response to the load shedding affecting the whole of the rainbow nation, in particular to reduce energy dependence on the national company Eskom?
Geordin Hill-Lewis: A waste to energy system is being installed at Vissershok to convert landfill gas into electricity. This is being designed for implementation around 2024/25, at an estimated cost of R197 million, or $10.2 million.
The first 2MW of generation at Vissershok is scheduled for implementation in 2024/25, increasing thereafter up to between 7-9MW of generation capacity by 2026/27, depending on gas yields.
In terms of biodiversity, South Africa is one of the 17 megadiverse countries with 70% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, thanks in particular to its 19 national parks covering up to 40,802 km2 of its territory, particularly Table Mountain in Cape Town. Cape Town in particular has one of the richest biodiversity in the world.
Geordin Hill-Lewis : The City has, with South African National Parks and CapeNature, developed the Biodiversity Network (BioNet) to identify areas that require conservation and implemented protected areas expansion and management in a sustainable manner, while facilitating development to meet the needs of a growing city.
Can you tell us a little about the project to renovate and extend the nature reserves currently underway in your area. Do you expect any spin-offs in terms of ecotourism, given that Cape Town has attracted 317,000 international visitors since the start of the year, including nature lovers?
Geordin Hill-Lewis : The network of the City’s nature reserves will enhance education, recreational and tourism opportunities. As it is, the City’s nature reserves are providing important destinations such as the Witzands dunes close to Atlantis where there are a range of recreation and commercial opportunities including sandboarding, quadbiking, 4x4ing, filming, hiking and activities to enjoy the spectacular scenery.
The 28th United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP28) ended on 12 December 2023 in Dubai without any major announcements. Did you have any specific expectations, particularly in terms of support for the climate resilience of cities facing the economic consequences of natural disasters (flooding in Cape Town in September 2023)? Do you think that decentralised cooperation between cities in the South can overcome the various ambiguities of the current global financial architecture?
Geordin Hill-Lewis : It is important to support municipalities and cities like Cape Town in their ongoing efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Conservation and protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services are critical. Ongoing funding and partnerships in the global south would greatly assit to mitigate/ameliorate natural disasters.
Which cities in other countries do you take as models in terms of urban planning?
Geordin Hill-Lewis : Urban planning in the above context generally would mean aiming to keep a balance between economic, community, and property development in the context of retaining agricultural and biodiversity protection, as well as utilising scarce resources such as water and developable land sustainably. Cape Town regularly engages cities in Africa and Australia on urban growth models. On aspects of resource protection and infrastructure development, certain European and UK cities are used. For technology advancements and local government engagements with its citizens, cities in Asia and Africa are used as examples. On optimisation of land, certain historical assumptions inherited from the American cities are reconsidered and re-evaluated.
You have been a member of the South African Parliament for a decade (2011-2021), which makes you a well-known political figure among South Africans. What are your ambitions for the presidential election to be held in May 2024? Will you submit your candidacy, for example, to build even greener and stronger cities?
Geordin Hill-Lewis : I certainly hope to see a refreshing change at a national goverment level in the 2024 election. I am currently the Mayor of Cape Town and loving every moment of this job as we make progress towards building a city of hope for all in line with our long-term vision. One day in the future I would love to run for President.
Interview by Benoit-Ivan Wansi