This volume offers 15 papers exploring aspects of urban change in Southern Africa. As noted in the title the common thread is that of government and governance and the collection begins with an overview paper exploring the meaning of such terms in this regional context. The papers that follow are divided into three sections: local authorities, urban policies and economic dimensions of urban management; local \authorities, urban policies and territorial equity – focusing on urban services; and politico-territorial restructuring and urban transformation. Reflecting this division, there is a particular focus on issues such as land, infrastructure and services, and the challenges of urban planning.

Most of the papers examine a particular city or town in some details. The individual cities discussed include Cape Town (SA), Durban (SA), Chipata (Zambia), Windhoek (Namibia), Harare (Zimbabwe) and Port Shepstone (SA). In some cases, the same city is analysed by a number of authors writing individually. Together the papers in this collection offer varied and detailed insights into the challenges facing urban development in this region. Whilst there are few answers, there is a wealth of understanding from a part of the world in which citizens are struggling to realise their needs far from the centres of economic power.