Johannesburg’s Wilds was once a neglected park associated with crime and urban decay. Contemporary artist James Delaney helped turn it into one of the city’s most active public spaces.
Delaney tells the story of The Wilds and what its revival says about public space, civic action and the difference determined residents can make in their own cities.
On 11 September 2026, Daily Maverick hosted the sixth edition of The Gathering at the CTICC in Cape Town. Under the theme Going for Broke: Cities Edition, the day brought together journalists, public officials, researchers, political figures, business leaders and civic actors to examine the state of South Africa’s cities ahead of the 2026 local government elections — what is failing, what is working and what it will take to make local government deliver.
The Gathering 2026 was held in partnership with Ninety One.
