From 27 to 29 October 2025, Deputy Speaker Hon. Vuyo Mhlakaza-Manamela led a delegation to the 2025 World Cities Day (China Observance), in Chongqing, the People’s Republic of China, themed: ‘People centred smart cities towards the future’. 

The invitation followed the Chongqing delegation’s courtesy visit to the GPL on 01 September 2025.  

The Deputy Speaker received the invitation to China to benchmark with a smart city such as Chongqing, in line with GPL’s mandate of oversight, law-making, and service delivery areas such as human settlements, safety and security, infrastructure, and economic development.

October 31 was declared World Cities Day by the United Nations Settlements Programme in 2014, serving as an opportunity to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanisation, advance cooperation among countries in addressing urban challenges, and contribute to sustainable urban development around the world. 

Jointly organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China, UN-Habitat, and the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government, the World Cities Day Observance focused on Urban Governance Modernisation as well as exploring the development of innovative, liveable, and smart cities.

The Deputy Speaker delivered a keynote address during the opening ceremony, highlighting the day as a pivotal tool in emphasizing cities as epicentres of progress, innovation, and cultural exchange.

“Cities are where humanity’s greatest challenges and opportunities converge, economic dynamism interwoven with social inclusion, technological advancement alongside environmental stewardship. Urbanisation is neither a problem to be feared nor a mere demographic statistic, it is a profound catalyst for change”, said the Deputy Speaker. 

The Deputy Speaker impressed on Gauteng Province’s focus on sustainable urbanisation, which she stressed is in alignment with China’s ambitious commitment to green development and smart city innovation. 

“The lessons learned from Chinese cities—from Chongqing’s robust infrastructure investments to its smart technology integration—offer valuable insights for Gauteng and indeed for cities globally.

 As cities grow, so too must our resolve to uphold the principles enshrined in the United Nations’ New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. We must foster city ecosystems that are safe, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable places where all citizens have access to affordable housing, clean water, quality education, reliable healthcare, and job opportunities. Our cities must promote social equity, gender equality, and the empowerment of marginalized communities”, the Deputy Speaker concluded.

Part of the conference included visits to:

  • The Garden Expo Park – covers an area of 3300 hectares with views of nearby mountains, lakes, gorges, and Beipei city, boasting various miniature gardens from 80 domestic cities and 30 international cities. The park is divided into six areas, including themed, traditional, international, modern gardens, as well as the Yangtze Three Gorges ecology garden and the ecology experience zone.
  • The Chongqing Planning Exhibition Gallery has been operating since April 2022. It forms a new landmark cluster of Chongqing and serves as an important window for showcasing the city.
  • The Seres Super Factor – Located in the New Energy Vehicle Industrial Park. The facility is equipped with over 1600 intelligent devices and 3000 robots, with the factory supporting flexible multi-model production. In 2024, the Seres recorded a total sales volume of 426,885 new energy vehicles, presenting a year-on-year increase of 182.84%.
  • The Sanfeng Yulin Waste-to-Energy Plant – It is the fourth waste-to-energy plant planned and built for the main urban area of Chongqing, with a design inspired by the concept of the “City of mountains and rivers”, and covers an area of about 18 hectares, processing 3000 tons of household waste per day. 

The project combines ecological efficiency with community integration, and as of December 2024, it had processed 4.6 million tons of household waste, reduced Carbon Dioxide emissions by approximately 1.26 million tons, and generated 2.04 billion kWh of electricity, enough to meet the annual power consumption of about 2.46 million urban residents.

  • Libiza Station – a famous and unique monorail station and a tourist attraction in Chongqing known for the train passing directly through a 19-storey residential building. The 6th and 8th floors are dedicated to the station, with the 7th floor being the station platform. There is a 20cm safety distance between the six light rail pillars and the building to minimise vibrations and noise.

The opening ceremony was preceded by the welcoming dinner as well as the Charming Chongqing Drone Light Show, with 16,000 drones displaying an aerial show for delegates. 

The Deputy Speaker reaffirmed the commitment of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and the people of South Africa to a deepening friendship with the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government, and to strengthening cooperation among all cities of the world in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals and a shared future for humanity.