Exploring the Concept of Smart City Within Local Government Context

Abstract

Municipalities in South Africa are increasingly adopting “smart city” initiatives to enhance service delivery, improve quality of life, and stimulate economic growth. While the smart city concept is gaining momentum in South Africa, there is a gap in the literature regarding the relationship between the smart city theory and practice. Despite growing interest, a notable gap persists in the literature regarding the alignment between smart city theory and its practical implementation within local governance. The aim of this paper is to explore the concept of a smart city within the local government context, focusing on the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), Gauteng. The study adopted a qualitative research design, using semi-structured interviews as primary data, and reviewed relevant reports and literature as secondary data. Fourteen municipal leaders were purposively selected and interviewed from the City of Johannesburg (CoJ). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The result of this study reveals that, while smart city initiatives hold significant potential for improving governance and service delivery, their implementation in Johannesburg is constrained by structural challenges, resource limitations, and leadership capacity gaps. The findings indicate that the CoJ remains far from achieving the characteristics associated with a fully developed smart city. To address these barriers, the study recommends targeted leadership development programmes, inclusive governance practices, strategic investment in infrastructure, and digital literacy initiatives to ensure equitable access and citizen engagement. This research contributes practical insights and policy guidance for context-sensitive strategies that promote sustainable and inclusive smart city transformation.