It alliviates the capacity and growth problems which our major rural centres are facing, reduces transportation dependency, reduces poverty and builds capacity where it is most needed. It's not rocket science; it makes sense. It improves quality of life, builds communities, strong economies and sustains the family tradition.
Assuming that there is general concensus that new regional urban centres are a good idea, the first three key questions which manifest are these;
1. What should these cities look like?
2. Where should they be located?
3. How will these developments be financed?
The latter two have been the subject and focus of most of the mainstream media's coverage. A few flippant and uninformed comments were recorded when the architects who designed the project released images to the media but they all missed the point completely. It is not the form that should be of interest or concern; it is the FUNCTION.
The true function, or purpose, of this development is clearly defined in its title; "Smart Growth". Smart Growth, Smart Cities and "New Urbanism" is something that numerous well informed South African architects believe will have a disastrous effect on the future of South Africa, its people, its economy, its freedom and its independence.
Those in positions of influence or power in South Africa should be questioning the United Nations Agenda 21's role in the creation, contruction and future occupation of the Nkandla-Mlalazi Smart Growth Centre - as well as all other planned "Smart Growth" centres in the country.
It's all there... there is no mystery, no conspiracy - just facts.
UN Agenda 21 is an uncomfortable truth for many architects and urbanists in South Africa today; it does not sit well with us. It has adversely affected those who were manipulated into collaborating, promoting and executing it without full disclosure or knowledge of the facts pertaining to the individuals and the agenda behind the entire operation.
We urge the South African investigative media to take a closer look at the role which the UN's Agenda 21 covert goals have impacted on the creation of the Nkandla-Mlalazi Smart Growth Centre. It is that which needs to be questioned. Little else matters beyond that - for now.
