The Benefit Of Urban Renewal Campaigns: A Bellville Case Study

Ald James Vos is Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth in the City of Cape Town. We explore the better. bellville. together. campaign, a City-funded place-making and economic development initiative.

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Presented in collaboration with The Greater Tygerberg Partnership

Listen or watch to explore:

• The City of Cape Town's vision for the Bellville CBD.
• The catalyst that galvanised support for the Better Bellville Together Campaign.
• Why this campaign has been launched now.
• How the public and private sector can collaborate, with a specific focus on public-private partnerships.
• How this campaign for Bellville can be used across the rest of Cape Town.
• How the Better Bellville campaign has begun to show tangible renewal in this important city node.
• How to take this successful approach to other areas across the city that need the same commitment to urban renewal.

Episode Summary:

• 00:00:00 In this section, Alderman James Vos, a member of the mayoral committee in Cape Town, discusses the Better Bellville Together campaign and its vision for the Bellville CBD. The campaign aims to unlock the investment potential of the region and create a more resilient and accessible economy. Vos emphasises the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors, with clear communication and a shared vision of goals. He highlights the success of the campaign to date, including the removal of waste and graffiti from the streets, as tangible evidence of renewal in the city. The campaign serves as a blueprint for future urban renewal efforts in other areas of Cape Town.
• 00:05:00 In this section, Ald Vos discusses the benefits and goals of the urban renewal campaign in Bellville. The campaign has focused on repairing and painting public benches, beautifying the area to attract businesses and create jobs, while also reducing waste on landfills. The initiative aims to make Bellville investment-ready and retain and expand businesses, leading to job creation and increased property values. He mentions that this blueprint can be applied to other areas of the city that require urban renewal, with partnerships being explored for similar investments. The campaign also considers the importance of educational institutions, pharmaceutical and medical sectors, public transport connectivity, and economic nodes like the Cape Town International Airport. Overall, the goal is to position Bellville as a place where people can live, work, and play, contributing to the economic growth of the entire region.
• 00:10:00 In this section, Ald Vos discusses the importance of investing in the skills and talent of the community as part of the urban renewal campaign. Businesses and future investments rely on the growth of skills and talent, making individuals job-ready. Ald James Vos expresses excitement about the campaign and its initiatives, stating that it will continue into the new financial year. He highlights the need for continuous investment and the involvement of more partners. He also emphasises the importance of innovation and pushing boundaries to achieve breakout economic growth, making Bellville a trendsetter in the process.

About Ald James Vos:

James Vos is Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth in the City of Cape Town. His portfolio comprises a combination of the Tourism, Enterprise and Investment Department with those of the City's extensive Asset Management Departments which allows for important synergies and levers in driving economic growth in Cape Town.

He previously served as member of parliament in the National Assembly as the shadow minister of tourism. Prior to this, he was elected as councillor for nearly three consecutive terms and served in various capacities such as portfolio chairman and subcouncil chairman.

During his time as public representative, James received numerous civic awards such as the Melvin Jones Fellowship and International Merit Award, and was bestowed with aldermanship, making him amongst the youngest to receive this life title.

James will work towards the objective of inclusive economic growth, by strengthening partnerships with the private sector that will provide for skills pipelines into the high growth sectors and implementing measures to achieve the ease of doing business.
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About The Greater Tygerberg Partnership:

We are connecting people, places and partners to the many possibilities that exist for the current and future success of Bellville; Cape Town's secondary city.

Bellville is an important economic node that lies about 20 kilometres north of Cape Town, South Africa. The Greater Tygerberg Partnership is mandated to promote and accelerate the regeneration and upliftment of Bellville and surrounding areas, to drive its future as a prosperous, successful and attractive commercial centre for business owners, and a vibrant, inclusive, safe and modern hub for residents, students and the general public.

We are a development facilitation agency at the centre of a broad ecosystem focused on urban regeneration. We connect multiple stakeholders seeking to maximise the assets of Bellville, for the greater good of all people who live, work and play there.
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