Jozi My Jozi: A Scalable, People-First Model for Cities Everywhere

Innocent Mabusela, CEO of Jozi My Jozi, shares that the organisation has received growing interest from stakeholders and partners across various South African cities and even internationally. Many are keen to adopt and adapt the Jozi My Jozi model in their own contexts.

He finds this humbling and affirming, as the model was never intended to be exclusive to Johannesburg - it is designed to be replicable anywhere in South Africa and around the world.

The ultimate vision is a network of functioning cities: a thriving Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and a South Africa that works for its people.

Central to the model's success and transferability is keeping communities at the heart of every initiative. Jozi My Jozi consistently listens to residents' needs and aspirations before and during project implementation.

Mabusela stresses that the approach is not a superficial marketing exercise or opportunity for political points; anyone adopting the model must genuinely prioritise long-term benefits for local people over short-term gains.