Organisational Core Metropolitan Urban Regions

At the Inaugural Metropolitan Mayors’ Meeting in Cape Town on 27 August 2025, South Africa’s eight metros—representing 55% of the population and over 70% of economic activity—convened under SALGA to discuss city governance. SALGA emphasized the need for about R70 billion in annual capital investment over the next decade to sustain urban growth.

The STI Business Forum is therefore built around South Africa’s Metropolitan Areas and Urban SEZs:

• City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (East Rand) – Main Hub
• City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality
• City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality
• City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality (CPT)
• Polokwane Municipality
• eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
• Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (East London)
• Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
• City of Mbombela Local Municipality
• Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (Gqeberha), and
• Special Economic Zones (SEZ) e.g. Vaal SEZ