Welcome back to the Talking Transformation Podcast! We'redelighted to welcome back Tanya Zack, a renowned urban planner and author, joining us from Johannesburg.

Tanya first graced our podcast in February 2023 when shediscussed her book "Wake Up, This is Joburg!", a fascinatingexploration of inner-city Johannesburg urban landscape and the vibrant communities operating within that space.

In this episode, Tanya is here to talk about her latestbook, "The Chaos Precinct", set in the so-called, 'Ethiopian Quarter' in the inner city of Johannesburg, a vibrant area known for its cross-border shopping. This precinct, pioneered by Ethiopian migrants, has transformed theCBD’s office towers into bustling shopping centers filled with small, cupboard-sized shops.

These shops, which sell fast fashion, have repurposed whatwere once medical buildings into a thriving commercial hub. The book delves into the dynamic and ever-evolving urban spaces of Johannesburg, offering deep insights into the lives of the people who live and work there. It explores theeconomic potential of this area and the challenges faced by its inhabitants, providing a compelling narrative of transformation and resilience, policing and governance: identity and belonging.

This is the second book Tanya has discussed on the TalkingTransformation podcast, and we couldn't be more excited to hear about her latest work.

"The Chaos Precinct" promises to be another compelling read, offering deep insights into the dynamic and ever-evolving urban spaces of Johannesburg.

For those of you watching this via YouTube, you’ll also getto see some of the images included in the book, celebrating another collaboration with photographer Mark Lewis, our co-guest back in 2023 when we first discussed Joburg with Tanya.

 Orders for "The Chaos Precinct", published byJacana Media, can be made via:

https://jacana.co.za/product/the-chaos-precinct-johannesburg-as-a-port-city/

Email the Talking Transformation Podcast [email protected]

Find us on Bluse Sky @TTpod

Recorded: 17th July 2025

It's been a busy couple of months behind the scenes of the Talking Transformation podcast.

I've been eager to introduce a visual element to the podcast to highlight some of the rich visual imagery and products highlighted by our guests.

This has involved a lot of upskilling and learning on my part to ensure that what we produce is both fit for purpose and adds value to our listeners (soon to be listeners AND viewers!).

So, here it is, Series 5, Episode 1, and the first visual introduction to the TTPod’s first dual-medium podcast, featuring an interview with Wakamoso’s Dr. Melani Prinsloo and Mike Mathews.

This conversation is sure to inspire those who work with communities and data alike. We discuss how to harness the potential of communities and develop value and networks from their own data and information and starting to use that data commons to improve the understanding and the data available and strengthen the networks and value within that community.

I hope you'll enjoy the episode and the medium. If we’ve earned your subscription please do like, share and subscribe. Most importantly, enjoy the conversation and insights from Melani and Mike!

Find us on BlueSky via @TTpodThe audio version will still be available via all the usual podcast platforms including Apple, Spotify and Deezer.

For more information on Wakamoso - check out their excellent website via https://www.wakamoso.africa/

Recorded May 1st 2025

We follow up from our introductory episode with a second podcast episode featuring the planners who have worked as the head of the City of Johannesburg's Metro Planning unit 2000: Johan Olivier, Pete Ahmad, Nkateko Shipalana, Thandeka Mlaza-Lloyd and Minenhle Maphumulo.

These guests represent a straight line of

In this episode we consider some of the processes and plans that have become fundamentals of Johannesburg’s post-2000 planning frameworks and the rationale at that metropolitan scale.

We reflect on some of the matters and metrics that kept us up at night and touch on the tricky tightrope officials walk: trying, on the one hand to balance political imperatives and needs with sound planning norms and overarching regulatory requirements on the other. There are stories of hope and disappointment and many lessons to reflect on.

It's another engaging conversation and will be of interest

Regrettably, Dylan Weakley was unable to join us for this episode but we are looking forward to him rejoining the fold in the next conversation where we hope to deal with matters of spatial targeting, prioritisation and aligning the spatial plans to budgets. 

Recorded 15th October 2024

The small-scale rental sector continues to gain momentum and prominence in discussions about city building and the required funding and infrastructure requirements to support this emerging property market, It’s also become a recurring theme on the Talking Transformation Podcast.

uMaStandi has been working in this space since 2018 and continue to render financial services for

I am joined by uMaStandi Portfolio Manager Nomfundo Molemohi. responsible for the Western

In this episode we deep-dive the approach and impact of this emerging market and the financial implications and opportunities afforded in the sector. What are the considerations of the funder and prospective client and what happens once the project has been green-lit and approved? It's a refreshing take on an emerging property sector and one that is undoubtedly shaping our communities across the country and providing much needed affordable rental opportunities for an underserved market.

Learn more about uMastandi via: https://umastandi.co.za/

Recorded: June 12th 2024

In this episode of the Talking Transformation Podcast, our subject is South Africa's National Spatial Development Framework (NSDF) - a long-term spatial plan that sets South Africa's spatial agenda and trajectory towards 2050. As a legally mandated plan via SPLUMA, it completes the "set" of government spatial plans adding to the provincial and municipal spatial development frameworks prepared over many years.

It also advances the ambitions and directives of the 2030 National Development Plan (NDP).

It's a critical document for South Africa outlining the ambitions, growth and transformation objectives for urban and rural areas in South Africa.

We also talk about the challenges of alignment and coherence across the spheres of government and seek to understand how planners and other built environment practitioners can embed the thinking and implementation aspects of the NSDF into their routines and work.

Access the NSDF via:

https://sacplan.org.za/wp-content/uploads/Booklet-NSDF.pdf

Watch the YouTube video via this link:

https://youtu.be/pQnaAKkUZUc?si=EiJ3pqCj-xtb_QGV

Recorded 2nd May 2024

In August last year we were delighted to work with the fledgling Now Now Competition that used the Cape Town stadium as a focal point for its inaugural design contest. In it's second iteration the Now Now contest has shifted focus within Cape Town from Green Point to Khayelitsha's Spine Road.

In this latest episode of the Talking Transformation Podcast, Sebestian Hitchcock - principal coordinator of the NowNow architecture competition - and I talk to two of the local entrepreneurs within Khayelitsha, Brian Bango a friend of the podcast and, for the first time Buntu Matole.

Spine Road is a critical arterial for Cape Town linking numerous communities within and beyond Khayelitsha. It links the sands of Strandfontein in Mitchells Plain, through Rocklands and beyond Mew Way. It is recognised as a vibrant heart of the community and famed for its party and nightlife when the sun goes down!

This episode unpacks some of the realities and aspirations for the road and the broader community from innovators in that space: Brian is a leading property developer and Buntu is a pioneer in the tourism field.

The episode is upbeat, inspiring, and provides an excellent opportunity for the curious and prospective competition entrants alike to learn more about the opportunities of the road and requirements of the contest.

Recorded: Wednesday, March 27th 2024

For our first recording of the year the Talking Transformation Podcast we are blending innovation, international and entrepreneurial flavours with our guest, Marlene Lerch co-founder of the "Dooiy" – Hack your Schack NGO.

Dooiy is a fledgling non-profit organisation from Germany that operates between Berlin and South Africa. I first met Marlene whilst working with the Ranyaka NGO team operating out of Stellenbosch last year. As you’ll hear, collaboration and partnership with other NGOs and agencies with similar values and perspectives is an essential part of their operations and key to the growth of Dooiy.

I was struck by the simplicity and effectiveness of “hacks” and devices that they promote via their Dooiy platform (https://dooiy.org/).

Whether it’s manufacturing soap, building a washing machine or DIY fire extinguishers, the products are designed to provide effective solutions for minimal cash outlays. There are also numerous guides to assist in the growing of vegetables and cooking tips to keep families healthy and diets nutrition-rich.

In addition to the health and safety benefits offered, Dooiy also seeks to provide young entrepreneurs with the chance to transform their own economic circumstances by manufacturing these items and on-selling within the community.

During the first days of an extended visit to South Africa I took the time to understand the approach and ambitions of Dooiy with Marlene. Her passion and enthusiasm for the platform, products, and communities she is working with make for a great way to kick start the first month of the year and I hope you’ll enjoy the episode as much as I did recording the episode and spending time with her.

Recorded 24th January 2024

2024 is an important year for South Africa that will - no doubt - see plenty of reflection on 30 years of democracy and consider the achievements of this democratic era and the perennial and future challenges facing communities across the country.

One of those perennial challenges remains the progressive realisation of housing for all – a quest that has shaped so much of the debate and policy-making since 1994. So, it’s perhaps fitting that it’s a theme that kicks off our 2024 as we consider a newly released book: "Housing in African Cities - A Lens on Urban Governance".

Covering six countries and eight different cities across the

In this TTPod episode, editorial team, Dr. Margot Ruben, Dr. Sarah Charlton, Dr. Neil Klug reflect on the contributions made. What themes were important and how do some of those themes echo (or not!) some of the thinking going into a new White Paper on Human Settlements?

Happy New Year to all Talking Transformation Podcast listeners!

Recorded 18th December 2023

I was first made aware of the unique building typologies in the Blue Downs area in the early 2020s. Central Blue eState and eHousing units certainly didn’t look like a conventional affordable housing project or subscribe to many of the unit design concepts I’m familiar with. I’ve been intrigued by the thinking behind the units and the design ever since.