GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, SMART CITIES AND COMMUNITY CENTRIC APPROACHES IN SOUTH AFRICA: A THEORETICAL REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT
This paper examines how innovative practices are conceptualized and implemented in the pursuit of sustainable infrastructure development in South Africa. It responds to the fragmentation in existing literature by integrating key domains, including green infrastructure, smart city initiatives, the Integrated Urban Development Framework, and community-centric approaches, to develop a more coherent understanding of sustainable infrastructure transitions. A narrative literature review was conducted using academic studies, policy documents, and institutional reports published between 2015 and 2025. The analysis employed thematic synthesis, guided by theoretical lenses such as sustainable development, innovation diffusion, resilience, and spatial justice. Findings indicate that innovations such as urban reforestation, nature-based flood management, digital water metering, and participatory upgrading of informal settlements can yield interconnected ecological, social, and economic benefits when supported by effective governance and policy alignment. However, challenges such as institutional fragmentation, corruption, funding limitations, technical capacity constraints, and the digital divide continue to hinder scalability and equitable implementation. The study also highlights the dominance of descriptive research and a lack of integrative theoretical frameworks in existing literature. Overall, the paper contributes an integrated conceptual perspective that links innovation, resilience, and spatial justice, offering insights for more inclusive and coordinated sustainable infrastructure development in South Africa and comparable Global South contexts.
Green Infrastructure; Innovation Diffusion; Smart Cities; Sustainable Infrastructure; South Africa.