Talking Transformation

This TTPod episode is a perfect example of the kind of conversation we want to amplify on this platform. I'm joined online from Tshwane by Tunisia Cassim, recently recognised as one of the South African Council for Planners’ Top 30 Women in Planning for 2025. Tunisia’s journey is truly inspiring and reflective of many of the challenges young planners face. She shares her early days navigating bursaries and retrenchments, to the resilience and perseverance needed during the COVID-era, JUST when her career was changing gears. And more recently we share in the celebration of her recently completed Master of Science in Planning at Wits. Her story is about more than professional milestones—it’s about resilience, mentorship, and the passion to connect theory with practice in the planning profession. She is a tireless champion and emerging mentor for young planners through her widely followed LinkedIn journal, Journey of a Candidate Town Planner. Tunisia reflects on the giants who shaped her path, the importance of bursaries and supportive educators, and the realities of building a career in a shifting urban landscape. Her reflections on resilience, mentorship, and the intersection of theory and practice remind us why these conversations matter. So settle in as we explore the lessons, challenges, and triumphs of a planner whose voice is helping redefine the future of the profession in South Africa. Recorded: Friday 12th December 2025

In this TTPod episode we’re catching up with someone who’s become a real friend of the podcast and a standout leader in South Africa’s public sector: Yolisa Kani. She’s back with me in Cape Town, bringing her trademark energy and a wealth of experience from both government and the private sector. If you’ve followed Yolisa’s journey, you’ll know she’s spent decades at the forefront of transformation—blending policy, stakeholder negotiation, and commercial leadership to drive real change in how people and goods move across the country. After a four-year stint leading public policy for Uber in Southern Africa she re-entered the public sector, taking on the pivotal role of Chief Business Development Officer at Transnet. In this episode she reflects on: * The launch of LeaseCo, which aims to mobilize rolling stock, invite third-party operators, and free up strategic assets for broader development. * The cultural and leadership shifts happening within Transnet—and what that means for customers, cities, and the economy over the next 12 to 36 months. * Practical steps being taken to turn surplus Transnet property into real urban opportunities, and how the company is responding to calls for more flexible, mixed-use developments near transport nodes. We conclude with Yolisa’s candid reflections on the challenges ahead, the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors, and the milestones set for the coming year—including the ambitious targets for LeaseCo and the broader reforms designed to get more freight off the roads and onto rail. So, settle in for a conversation that’s as insightful as it is inspiring. As always, we hope you enjoy the episode. Recorded 20th October 2025

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 succession from the inception of the metro in 2000. Their availability and willingness to share their experiences presents a unique opportunity to go deep into the themes and aspects of metro scale planning. 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 to built environment professionals, young and old. 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