Online Book Talk_23 January 2026
Book Series ‘Local and Urban Governance’
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Online Book Talk . 23 January 2026 . 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
Book Series ‘Local and Urban Governance’
Book: Daniel du Plessis (Ed.) (2025). 'Territorial Governance and Spatial Transformation in Post-apartheid South Africa' (see here ∞ )
Book presented by: Daniel du Plessis, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Discussants: Gustav Visser, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Johan Olivier, Professional Urban and Regional Planner, South Africa
Moderator: Carlos Nunes Silva, Geographer, Lisbon, Portugal
Editor of the Book Series 'Local and Urban Governance'
Event Details:
· Date and Time: Friday, 23 January 2026, 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
· Location: Online (zoom link will be sent to registered participants)
· Register here (Google form): https://forms.gle/rVQwaQiKJdhKoL38A
Time: time referred is UTC. Confirm what it corresponds to in your place (See, here: https://time.is/UTC )
Book Series: Local and Urban Governance (Springer): https://www.springer.com/series/16129
Contact: Carlos Nunes Silva, Lisbon, Portugal, E-mail: cnsulisboa@gmail.com
About the book
The book provides a reflective account of the evolution of the territorial governance structures and processes in South Africa over a period of 30 years after the transition to a post-apartheid society in 1994. It also considers the role and influence of these changing governance institutions and processes and their associated outputs (in the form of policies and plans) on several priority dimensions of urban spatial transformation. The synthesis of the experiences and lessons learnt provides the bases for contemplating important future focus areas for territorial governance such as spatial transformation towards smart cities, an African perspective for future South African cities, and transitioning towards a streamlined integrated territorial governance system. The lessons and experiences are not only of local significance in South Africa, but also globally in countries and regions faced with territorial governance and spatial transformation challenges.
Biographical notes
Danie du Plessis is a professionally registered urban and regional planner with 34 years of experience in urban planning, policy development, and the spatial organisation of cities and urban systems. The first 17 years of his career were spent in professional consultancy, during which he completed over 200 research and contract assignments locally and internationally. These included spatial development frameworks, housing strategies at multiple scales, long term city development strategies, regional growth and development strategies, Integrated Development Plans, and Environmental Management Frameworks. He joined the Centre for Regional and Urban Innovation and Statistical Exploration (CRUISE) at Stellenbosch University in 2009, and has served as its Director since November 2019. His research has focused on urban spatial planning and policy, innovation in planning systems, urban transformation, and the spatial statistical analysis of cities and urban systems. Within the academic domain, he serves as programme leader for the Master’s and PhD programmes in Urban and Regional Planning at Stellenbosch University. He has authored 60 articles, book chapters and conference papers, and has successfully supervised 45 Master’s and doctoral candidates. Alongside his academic work, he remains actively involved in professional practice and served as Chairperson of the Stellenbosch Municipal Planning Tribunal from 2019 until the conclusion of his term in May 2023.
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Gustav Visser studied at Stellenbosch University and the London School of Economics. He was appointed Professor of Geography at the University of the Free State in 2009 and then in 2015 at Stellenbosch University. He holds an NRF B2 rating. His primary research interests focus on identity-based consumption and urban morphological change, particularly in the relationship between tourism and development in urban areas. This work has been published in over 150 scholarly journal articles, book chapters, and books.
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Over the past three decades, Johan Olivier has worked across municipal government, the private sector, and local community environments, contributing to regional, provincial, and national initiatives. His expertise spans socio-economic investment planning, land-use and spatial planning, spatial economics, and sustainable development. Johan began his career in 1994 at the City of Johannesburg after completing his degree in town and regional planning. By 2001, he was appointed Assistant Director, responsible for shaping and implementing the City’s Metropolitan Spatial Development and Capital Investment Framework, which resulted in one of the first online and cloud-based capital prioritisation systems in the country. In 2005, Johan co-founded Akanya Development Solutions, a Pretoria based consultancy specialising in integrated, spatial, and community based planning. Akanya’s clients included rural, district, and metropolitan municipalities, as well as provincial and national departments. In 2013, Johan and colleagues from Akanya established Ranyaka Community Transformation, a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to regenerative strategies for towns, cities, and communities. Working alongside 38 communities across South Africa, Ranyaka is pioneering innovative mechanisms for cooperation, planning, and investment to transform small towns and townships into resilient and thriving places. In 2023, he led the formation of SHARE, a for-profit economic development company that bridges the gap between corporate and government investment flows and small-town and township opportunities, enterprises, and local economies. He is also the architect of THRIVE, a place-based, people-centred and citizen-enabled approach that integrates planning, community organisation, and local economic development into one coherent system. It serves as both a framework and a movement—offering practical pathways for cooperation, investment, and shared benefit across towns and neighbourhoods. The Thrive moment was launched in October 2025. He is a registered Professional Town and Urban Planner (Registration: A/033/2007). His work continues to focus on building place-based, people-centred systems that enable communities to thrive. Personal Information Full name: Contact: Johannes Lodewijk Wijanand Olivie.
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