Smart cities start with people, not technology: lessons from Westbury
A smart city uses digital tools such as sensors, data networks and connected devices to run services more efficiently and respond to problems in real time. From traffic and electricity to public safety and waste removal, smart technologies aim to make life smoother, greener and more connected.
Ideally they also help governments listen to and serve citizens better. But without community input, 'smart' can end up ignoring the people it's meant to help.
That's why a different approach is gaining ground. One that starts not with tech companies or city officials, but with the residents themselves. I've been exploring what this looks like in practice, in collaboration with Terence Fenn from the University of Johannesburg.
We invited a group of Johannesburg residents to imagine their own future neighbourhoods, and how technology could support those changes.
Our research shows that when residents help shape the vision for a smart city, the outcomes are more relevant, inclusive and trusted.
Rethinking smart cities
Our research centred on Westbury, a dense, working-class neighbourhood west of central Johannesburg.
Originally designated for coloured residents under apartheid, Westbury remains shaped by spatial injustice, high unemployment and gang-related violence, challenges that continue to limit access to opportunities and basic services. Despite this, it is also a place of resilience, cultural pride and strong community ties.
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Protocol-level investments, which dominated in previous cycles, largely paused in 2024, suggesting a shift from infrastructure buildout to application-layer deployment. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ "Africa's macroeconomic fundamentals reinforce blockchain's strategic relevance. In 2025, Africa hosts at least nine of the world's 20 fastest-growing economies. Yet it continues to attract less than 1% of global venture and private equity capital, revealing a persistent allocation gap. 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This means even greater opportunities to leverage the technology to help build stronger, more sustainable African economies." He said blockchain was transforming financial market infrastructure. "It isn't just products and services that will be enhanced with blockchain technology, new financial market infrastructures will evolve – and have already. Blockchain's decentralised nature and immutable records enhance the security and efficiency of financial transactions, with enhanced trust and shared data through cryptographically signing and programmable smart contracts. This means intermediaries which currently provide services across the financial ecosystem may no longer be necessary, which could help reduce costs and speed up services," Downes said. BUSINESS REPORT
