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To improve the delivery of services, municipalities in South Africa are implementing information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives. The use of digitalization thus demands municipalities to introduce e-government services. With adequate resources and training, some municipalities also aim to advance their status as smart cities. However, However, not all municipalities are equipped to operate ICT-based services.  The article aims to explore this situation in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (herein referred to as CoE). The article is qualitative in nature and the data collected is analyzed descriptively. The article utilizes the triangulation of data (document review, literature review, interview) to strengthen validity and reliability in the research process. The findings explore the challenges related to leadership in the municipality that requires a willingness to adopt, adapt and implement ICT initiatives for smart governance; ICT infrastructure that requires a municipality to allocate adequate budget to smart governance platforms, training of employees to equip them to operate digitalized processes, to state a few. Overall, the study considers the status and implementation levels of ICT and smart governance in the CoE to be unsatisfactory and requires policy recommendations for effective realization to become a smart city. The article offers policy recommendations emphasizing incorporating ICT in municipal budgets to invest in digital infrastructure.

Rapid urbanization and the advances in Information and Communication Technology have changed the definition of "city" all over the world. In the beginning, the concept emerged as Digital Cities and gradually changed to Smart Cities bringing criteria along. It is inevitable that, in future the concept will change and develop new criteria. There are many components in the smart city, with the knowledge of the idea of "information and communication technologies", which is the focus of smart cities and the cities of the future. The ability to define cities as smart is possible through the development of balanced applications around these applications. In this study, the Istanbul city will be evaluated in the context of smart city studies while it is presented with components of smart city concept.

Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) as the transformation agenda of the world driven by digital technologies has heralded a significant and drastic shift from normal societal ways of doing things to a more advanced well-knit society. In a bid to enhance efficient service delivery and good governance South African municipalities should also join the bandwagon and adopt 4IR technologies in its operations. The study therefore unpacks the challenges and opportunities for adopting 4IR technologies in South African municipalities. The study being qualitative relied on purposively written records to gather data which was then analysed using thematic and content analysis techniques. The study established that South African local authorities are still lagging behind in terms of investing in 4IR technologies and they also face 4IR capacity building challenges. Similarly, SA municipalities should therefore embrace the conspicuous opportunities heralded by 4IR to address the attendant challenges and enhance efficient service delivery in its localities. 

The rapid advancement of information and communication technologies has profoundly transformed urban governance and tourism development worldwide, giving rise to the concepts of Smart City and Smart Tourism as integrated models of sustainable innovation. In Indonesia, several local governments have adopted Smart City initiatives to enhance public service quality and economic competitiveness. Among them, Bekasi Regency has emerged as one of the leading regions in formulating a comprehensive Smart Tourism planning framework. This study aims to examine the key dimensions of Smart Tourism planning in Bekasi by analyzing how digital transformation, governance innovation, and technological integration are embedded within the regional development agenda. Employing a qualitative approach that combines literature review and in-depth interviews with members of the Bekasi Smart City Council, this research utilizes thematic analysis through NVivo software. The findings indicate that technology and innovation form the core of Bekasi’s Smart Tourism planning, emphasizing three interrelated components: Smart Experience, Smart Business Ecosystem, and Smart Destination. The study also reveals that although digital infrastructure and public service systems have been significantly developed, challenges remain in data management, interoperability, and community digital literacy. It concludes that effective Smart Tourism planning should prioritize data-driven governance, cross-sector collaboration, and community empowerment to strengthen tourism competitiveness and ensure sustainable regional development.

Gauteng, South Africa's preeminent economic hub, confronts the imperative of achieving sustainable infrastructure development amidst rapid urbanization. The strategic integration of smart initiatives is crucial for fostering economic growth, environmental resilience, and societal well-being. This paper presents a critical review of Gauteng's infrastructure sustainability efforts through smart initiatives, employing a conceptual model that delineates Infrastructure Sustainability Development (ISD) as the dependent variable. Four independent variables—Smart Energy Systems, Smart Transportation, Smart Water Management, and Smart Urban Planning—are examined, each further defined by five sub-variables to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of their impact. This analysis evaluates the efficacy of provincial smart infrastructure initiatives, including the flagship Lanseria Smart City project, in promoting sustainability and aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study draws upon relevant theoretical frameworks, including Sustainable Development Theory, Systems Theory, Innovation Diffusion Theory, and the Smart Cities Framework, to provide a robust analytical foundation. The findings highlight achievements, challenges, and prospects, culminating in policy implications and recommendations for enhancing sustainable infrastructure development in Gauteng.

The rapid advancement of information and communication technologies has profoundly transformed urban governance and tourism development worldwide, giving rise to the concepts of Smart City and Smart Tourism as integrated models of sustainable innovation. In Indonesia, several local governments have adopted Smart City initiatives to enhance public service quality and economic competitiveness. Among them, Bekasi Regency has emerged as one of the leading regions in formulating a comprehensive Smart Tourism planning framework. This study aims to examine the key dimensions of Smart Tourism planning in Bekasi by analyzing how digital transformation, governance innovation, and technological integration are embedded within the regional development agenda. Employing a qualitative approach that combines literature review and in-depth interviews with members of the Bekasi Smart City Council, this research utilizes thematic analysis through NVivo software. The findings indicate that technology and innovation form the core of Bekasi’s Smart Tourism planning, emphasizing three interrelated components: Smart Experience, Smart Business Ecosystem, and Smart Destination. The study also reveals that although digital infrastructure and public service systems have been significantly developed, challenges remain in data management, interoperability, and community digital literacy. It concludes that effective Smart Tourism planning should prioritize data-driven governance, cross-sector collaboration, and community empowerment to strengthen tourism competitiveness and ensure sustainable regional development.

Gauteng, South Africa's preeminent economic hub, confronts the imperative of achieving sustainable infrastructure development amidst rapid urbanization. The strategic integration of smart initiatives is crucial for fostering economic growth, environmental resilience, and societal well-being. This paper presents a critical review of Gauteng's infrastructure sustainability efforts through smart initiatives, employing a conceptual model that delineates Infrastructure Sustainability Development (ISD) as the dependent variable. Four independent variables—Smart Energy Systems, Smart Transportation, Smart Water Management, and Smart Urban Planning—are examined, each further defined by five sub-variables to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of their impact. This analysis evaluates the efficacy of provincial smart infrastructure initiatives, including the flagship Lanseria Smart City project, in promoting sustainability and aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study draws upon relevant theoretical frameworks, including Sustainable Development Theory, Systems Theory, Innovation Diffusion Theory, and the Smart Cities Framework, to provide a robust analytical foundation. The findings highlight achievements, challenges, and prospects, culminating in policy implications and recommendations for enhancing sustainable infrastructure development in Gauteng.

Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) as the transformation agenda of the world driven by digital technologies has heralded a significant and drastic shift from normal societal ways of doing things to a more advanced well-knit society. In a bid to enhance efficient service delivery and good governance South African municipalities should also join the bandwagon and adopt 4IR technologies in its operations. The study therefore unpacks the challenges and opportunities for adopting 4IR technologies in South African municipalities. The study being qualitative relied on purposively written records to gather data which was then analysed using thematic and content analysis techniques. The study established that South African local authorities are still lagging behind in terms of investing in 4IR technologies and they also face 4IR capacity building challenges. Similarly, SA municipalities should therefore embrace the conspicuous opportunities heralded by 4IR to address the attendant challenges and enhance efficient service delivery in its localities. 

To improve the delivery of services, municipalities in South Africa are implementing information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives. The use of digitalization thus demands municipalities to introduce e-government services. With adequate resources and training, some municipalities also aim to advance their status as smart cities. However, However, not all municipalities are equipped to operate ICT-based services.  The article aims to explore this situation in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (herein referred to as CoE). The article is qualitative in nature and the data collected is analyzed descriptively. The article utilizes the triangulation of data (document review, literature review, interview) to strengthen validity and reliability in the research process. The findings explore the challenges related to leadership in the municipality that requires a willingness to adopt, adapt and implement ICT initiatives for smart governance; ICT infrastructure that requires a municipality to allocate adequate budget to smart governance platforms, training of employees to equip them to operate digitalized processes, to state a few. Overall, the study considers the status and implementation levels of ICT and smart governance in the CoE to be unsatisfactory and requires policy recommendations for effective realization to become a smart city. The article offers policy recommendations emphasizing incorporating ICT in municipal budgets to invest in digital infrastructure.

Rapid urbanization and the advances in Information and Communication Technology have changed the definition of "city" all over the world. In the beginning, the concept emerged as Digital Cities and gradually changed to Smart Cities bringing criteria along. It is inevitable that, in future the concept will change and develop new criteria. There are many components in the smart city, with the knowledge of the idea of "information and communication technologies", which is the focus of smart cities and the cities of the future. The ability to define cities as smart is possible through the development of balanced applications around these applications. In this study, the Istanbul city will be evaluated in the context of smart city studies while it is presented with components of smart city concept.