Exploring the Role of Green Building Technologies in Smart City Policies in South Africa

The rapid urbanisation of South African cities has intensified the demand for sustainable, efficient, and innovative urban development strategies. In response, smart city initiatives and green building technologies have increasingly been positioned as central components of national and municipal policy frameworks. This article explores the role of green building technologies within smart city policies in South Africa, with a specific focus on how these technologies are framed, integrated, and prioritised in policy discourse. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study employs a document analysis methodology to examine key national and municipal policy documents, including the National Development Plan (NDP 2030), the Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF), selected municipal Integrated Development Plans, and reports from the Green Building Council South Africa. Thematic content analysis is used to identify dominant policy narratives, areas of convergence, and existing gaps in the integration of green building technologies within smart city strategies. The findings reveal that while green building technologies are increasingly acknowledged as critical to sustainable urban development, their incorporation into smart city policies remains uneven and fragmented. Policy emphasis tends to prioritise digital infrastructure and economic competitiveness, often at the expense of comprehensive environmental sustainability and coordinated implementation mechanisms. The article contributes to the growing body of literature on smart cities and sustainable urban governance by providing a policy-focused analysis of the South African context. It further offers recommendations aimed at strengthening policy coherence, enhancing intergovernmental coordination, and mainstreaming green building technologies as integral components of smart city development. This study underscores the importance of aligning innovation-driven urban policies with sustainability objectives to advance resilient and inclusive cities in South Africa.