Thinking out the Box: Promoting Inter-jurisdictional Collaboration in South Africa

Abstract

Regional development planning is poorly developed in South Africa and most development initiatives are limited to provincial or municipal jurisdictions. This paper argues that international experiences regarding regionalism and cross-border development could offer useful lessons to South Africa. The issue of inter-jurisdictional collaboration is explored with reference to the Karoo region of South Africa. This region has not reached its economic potential, because it straddles four provinces. Nevertheless, there are positive signs of a new appreciation of regionalism in South Africa, in terms of academic analyses, civil society activities and recent government policy frameworks. This provides at least a preliminary foundation for new regional networks and institution-building to be promoted.