Once again demonstrating the importance and power of partnerships, Cisco and Jozi my Jozi recently joined forces to help make the revival of Johannesburg's inner city a reality.

A month to the day after the winter solstice - traditionally celebrated by ancient cultures as a time of renewal and rebirth - the technology giant and the non-profit organisation signed a memorandum of understanding.

There, they detailed their involvement in a wide ranging project that aims to bring new life to this 140 year old city.

While the occasion was localised, it had a distinctive international flavour. Johannesburg now has the distinction of being the first South African city to join Cisco's 40C Initiative, joining Western North Carolina in the US and Mumbai, India in the company's efforts to engage, support, and invest in 40 communities around the world over 10 years.

Brian Tippens, the Senior Vice President and Chief Social Impact & Sustainability Officer at Cisco

Brian Tippens, the Senior Vice President and Chief Social Impact & Sustainability Officer at Cisco, stressed that true impact isn’t delivered from a distance.

''It happens when we show up, listen, and align our global resources with the heartbeat of local communities,'' he said.

''To reach these heights, I am truly grateful that our work in South Africa wasn’t done in isolation. It was made possible through meaningful partnerships with government entities such as the Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa; the State Information Technology Agency; and the National Library of South Africa, among others,''  elaborated Tippens. 

Collaboration is key to the revitalisation, and it is also embedded in the project's name - Masibambisane (pronounced “mah-see-bahm-bee-SAH-neh” which means “let us work together.”

And that spirit of collaboration is woven into Jozi My Jozi, which consists of more than 140 organisations spanning government, business, civil society, academia, and local communities. The organisation detailed how it intends to revitalise the inner city, and bring investment back South Africa's hub.

Innocent Mabusela, CEO of Jozi My Jozi explained that the revitalisation will span four key pillars: 

Connected safety, Digital education and skilling, Smart mobility and transit and fourthly Responsible giving, volunteer engagement, and community activation.

Each pillar works together. Connected safety will leverage Cisco technology to combine smart cameras and intelligent lighting with AI infused monitoring, so as to improve the safety of the city.

Smart mobility will aim to address traffic congestion and streamline transportation, while digital skilling - a focus of Cisco's with its Networking Academy - is aimed at providing Joburg's citizens with the critical skills that they need to succeed in the digital era.  

Innocent Mabusela, CEO of Jozi My Jozi

While the importance of the first three pillars are almost self-explanatory at this point, the one that stood out most was the fourth, that of responsible giving.

It marked a strong recognition that enabling people to thrive is what makes a city successful, not just commerce.

Addressing social challenges like homelessness, therefore, is paramount, explained Mabusela. To this end, a blockchain based approached to giving to those most in need is also a part of how Jozi My Jozi sees the city being revitalised.

“This partnership is about much more than technology. It is about bringing together the energy of our people, the commitment of our partners and Cisco’s global capability to help restore hope, dignity and pride in Johannesburg,'' he added. .

What makes the story éven more interesting is the shared history of revitalisation. Cisco was created in and named after San Francisco - which more than a century ago rose from its own rubble after a great earthquake in 1906 devastated the city. And both San Francisco and Johannesburg owe their rise to a gold rush in the mid to late 1800s respectively.

''Jozi My Jozi is a super-connector for this city, and Cisco is a global connector. Through Masibambisane, we have an opportunity to show what becomes possible when local action is strengthened by global perspective and practical support,” concluded Mabusela.