ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the interdependence of governance from the perspective of the national and provincial governments, city governments and regional cooperation. The concept of sustainable development embraces many concerns, as expressed in the United Nations’ sustainable development goals. They include eliminating poverty and hunger and providing good health, wellbeing and quality education. The dynamics within the multi-level governance system become complex and seemingly contradictory when sustainability norms are added to the priorities of governance. The regionally decentralised authoritarianism that governs central-local government relationships becomes multidimensional when a new national imperative to protect the environment must be added to the prevailing emphasis that cities prioritize development. The most important form of competition is to improve the living environment, including reductions in air and water pollution, increasing green spaces and parks and enhancing biodiversity. Sustainable development is emerging from several sources, and through complex dynamics, mainly because sustainable development must be induced by governments.
