A Dispatch from the Future: What if the future of our cities has already been written—just not yet realised?
In this compelling and imaginative piece, Dr. Ronald Eglin transports us to the year 2036, where Buffalo City stands at the centre of a global movement for local food security in a rapidly changing world. Framed as a “report from the future,” the narrative challenges conventional thinking about development, governance, and sustainability by presenting a bold, yet plausible, vision of what is possible when cities choose to act with intention.
But this is more than fiction. It is a strategic provocation.
Through vivid storytelling—of thriving urban agriculture, energy innovation, community-driven economies, and globally connected local systems—the piece confronts a critical question: What would it take for our cities and communities to become self-reliant, resilient, and just?
At its core, this article reminds us that the future is not something we wait for—it is something we design.
Join the Movement: #WriteYourFutureSA
This piece forms part of the #WriteYourFutureSA campaign—an open invitation to thinkers, practitioners, activists, and citizens to imagine and articulate bold futures for their communities.
We are calling on you to:
- Envision your city, town, or village in 10–20 years
- Challenge current systems and assumptions
- Propose new pathways for justice, sustainability, and inclusion
Because meaningful change begins with a clear and courageous vision.
📩 To contribute your own future narrative, contact: info@afesis.org.za
Why This Matters
South Africa—and indeed the world—faces deep and interconnected challenges: food insecurity, inequality, climate pressure, and fragile local economies. The solutions will not come from abstract global frameworks alone, but from locally grounded, collectively imagined futures.
This is your opportunity to be part of shaping that future.
Read. Reflect. Then write your future.