THE City of Johannesburg, in partnership with C40 Cities, recently hosted engaging webinars for students and young professionals, setting the stage for the 2025 Students Reinventing Cities competition.
The competition, undertaken in collaboration with the C40 Cities, offers an opportunity to all Higher Education Students in the City to participate in this global design challenge for urban design students and youth in institutions of higher learning.
The sessions introduced the suburb of Kliptown in Region D – focusing on Walter Sisulu Square and its surrounding areas, while breaking down the competition structure, key deadlines, and lessons from past editions.
During the webinars, students got the chance to ask questions directly to C40, City of Joburg officials, and urban development experts.
The following areas were also covered during the webinars:
• Exploring Kliptown: Participants learned about Kliptown’s rich history, challenges today, and its vision for redevelopment.
• Competition Breakdown: The session detailed how the Students Reinventing Cities competition works, calling on young innovators to submit bold, sustainable ideas.
• The Vision: To transform Kliptown into a transit-oriented, green, and thriving mixed-use community – one that prioritises sustainability, accessibility, and economic growth.
The following are upcoming dates for students to note:
• 20 March 2025: Final deadline for students who still wish to register their teams.
• 01 April 2025: Official team registration deadline.
• 29 May 2025: Submission deadline for project proposals.
• June – July 2025: Project evaluation and winner selection.
The City of Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Development Planning Eunice Mgcina said the City was excited about the prospects of fresh ideas that could shape the future of Kliptown.
She further urged all students in institutions of higher learning who are studying urban management, town planning, architecture and related studies to take part in the competition.
“We are excited once again to be part of this innovative competition and I look forward to seeing all the entries that will produce the next generation of urban changemakers.
“Young people are the future and I want to appeal to our young students to take charge of their future and take part in all activities that will help us shape that future, today!” said MMC Mgcina.
