​The Rector and Executive Mayor's Forum has strengthened discussions on promoting Stellenbosch as the Innovation Capital of South Africa. It recently held its third meeting since the inauguration of Prof Wim de Villiers as Stellenbosch University (SU) Rector and Vice-Chancellor in 2015.

The Forum consists of De Villiers, Stellenbosch Executive Mayor Alderman Conrad Sidego and a number of academics and officials from the University and the Municipality. Areas of focus include urban development strategy, safety, as well as promoting Stellenbosch as the Innovation Capital of South Africa.

Sub-committees have been established that henceforth will meet regularly to address challenges and solutions in these focus areas. One of the goals of the Forum is that academics and officials share knowledge and best practice to take projects forward.

"Stellenbosch is the most unequal town in South Africa, if not the world. However, we have a huge human-capital resource base in our Municipality, the business sphere and at the University which can be harnessed to address many of our challenges through innovative thinking and practices," Sidego said.

"Innovation is a two-legged issue. We need technical innovation but we also need social innovation which is imperative to address the many socio-economic challenges, including drug abuse, crime, alcohol abuse and the high level of unemployment. Innovation is about the way we think," he added.

De Villiers said that this Forum is a wonderful opportunity to access the great knowledge and technical know-how present at the University and in the town to make a difference to society.

Prof Mark Swilling, distinguished professor and Programme Director: Sustainable Development in SU's School of Public Leadership, said that academics can harness a lot of resources to assist the Municipality. Swilling also pointed out the need for a website where the Municipality and the University can share information about innovative projects inside as well as outside the town.

Dr Jerome Slamat, Executive Manager in the SU Rectorate, said that an important contribution of the University to local economic development is to uplift local people through education.

Prof Nico Koopman, acting Vice-Rector of Social impact, Transformation and Personnel, said it was important to continue the conversation on promoting a welcoming culture both on the campus and in the rest of Stellenbosch. To this Sidego responded that the Municipality has perhaps not done enough to deal effectively and efficiently with transformation.

"This Forum needs to be an alliance for which the building of social cohesion is imperative," he said.

Mr Widmark Moses, Manager: Local Economic Development at Stellenbosch Municipality, pleaded that the Forum not only looks at social development, but also addresses economic development.