African smart cities of the future need inclusion and data integration

Integrated transport systems, data-driven planning and inclusive digital infrastructure are key elements that must underpin "smart" and economically sustainable African cities of the future.

Experts speaking during the Smart Cities & Integrated Mobility Systems panel discussion at Enlit Africa in Cape Town envisaged what functional cities across the continent could potentially look like.

The session focused on how Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), interoperable technologies and better urban planning could reshape African cities by reducing congestion, improving accessibility and connecting communities more effectively to economic opportunities.

Moderated by Vuyi Majola, head of integrated public transport networks at CityCon Africa, the discussion brought together voices from mobility technology, transport infrastructure and policy development.

Building smart cities the smart way

Nicholas Brooks, NEV technical assistance coordinator at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), argued that many of the barriers to smart city development in Africa are not technological, but rather related to pace, planning and integration.

“People are trying to run more quickly than can realistically be done. But smart cities absolutely can work in Africa because fundamentally they require the same things everywhere - connectivity, data and integration,” said Brooks.

Governments do not necessarily need to lead every aspect of implementation, but they do need to provide stable regulatory and policy frameworks that allow the private sector to innovate, he said.

“You don’t really need a lot from government. You need regulation and a framework that people can work with.”

Brooks said African cities could learn from international experiences while also leapfrogging older systems with newer technologies and more flexible approaches.

He suggested that constrained electricity networks can be managed through smart charging systems for electric buses, including overnight charging and the strategic use of solar generation during off-peak periods.

“Even if the grid is constrained, you can be clever and flexible with how you manage charging. That’s where smart city thinking comes in.

“Smart cities are kind of the same. And of course, they will work in cities in Africa.”

Brooks also highlighted the importance of shared mobility data and interoperable payment systems.

Integrating charging infrastructure, transport operators and digital payment platforms into a single user-friendly system would dramatically improve the customer experience.

He added that one of South Africa’s biggest mobility challenges remains the lack of integration between transport modes.

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Understanding the nuts and bolts of local economies

Jamie Wyngaard, co-founder and chief experience officer of Loop, stressed that African mobility systems must be designed around the realities of local communities.

“Not everyone has devices where they can download apps or access digital services in the same way. So we built a system around platforms people already use.”

He warned that many technology deployments fail because they are designed without understanding the daily realities of commuters and informal transport operators.

“If you simply import a model from overseas without understanding the [local] market, you lose a huge portion of the population,” he said.

Wyngaard said transport digitisation must remain customer-centric and inclusive, particularly in emerging markets where transport costs already consume a significant share of household income.

“If we introduce systems that make things harder or more expensive, then we are failing the commuter.”

Urban planning approaches, he noted, continue to separate residential areas from economic centres, particularly in South Africa where apartheid-era spatial planning still forces millions to travel long distances to work.

“Why are we still building houses far away from economic opportunities? Instead of asking where to build houses, we should ask where to build businesses and economic hubs.”

Wyngaard said data-driven planning should guide decisions around housing, transport and economic development rather than political assumptions or top-down decision-making.

“You cannot build systems based on the highest-paid person’s opinion. You have to build based on the data.”

He further emphasised the importance of interoperability across mobility platforms and payment systems, arguing that collaboration between government and the private sector would ultimately benefit operators and consumers.

Wyngaard also called for broader inclusion within mobility ecosystems, noting that transport hubs such as taxi ranks support entire informal economies that are often overlooked during digitisation efforts.

“If you want true inclusion and true digital transformation, you need to understand everybody’s role in the system,” he said.

Africa 2030

Thierry Lassus, head of the mobility segment at Hitachi, said African cities must first focus on building reliable mobility foundations before pursuing more advanced “smart city” ambitions.

“If you want a smart city future, you first need strong mobility networks. Without efficient transport systems, the attractiveness and economic competitiveness of cities will decline.”

He pointed to rapid urbanisation and growing congestion pressures as major drivers behind the need for integrated mobility planning but expressed optimism about Africa’s future due to its young population.

“The positive thing about Africa is that the population is young. The people making decisions today are the ones who will see the benefits tomorrow.”

Lassus argued that electrification alone would not solve congestion challenges and that cities needed multiple transport modes built around mass transit systems such as metro rail, regional trains and bus rapid transit corridors.

“Electric vehicles solve emissions, but they do not solve congestion. You still have the same number of cars on the road.”

He stressed that African cities need long-term transport plans supported by collaboration between governments, planners and technology providers.

“The technology already exists. What Africa needs is a plan and the commitment to implement it.”

On the issue of data sharing, Lassus acknowledged that private companies are often reluctant to share commercially valuable information but said there was significant untapped value in collaborative data ecosystems.

Looking ahead to 2030, the panel agreed that African cities have the potential to accelerate rapidly towards integrated, digitally enabled mobility systems.

But, provided that infrastructure, policy and technology are developed with inclusion, interoperability and sustainability at their core.