Players are invited to take on the role of a municipal manager, facing numerous problems: increasing potholes on roads, residents' demands, the threat of river pollution due to sewage leaks, and the need for additional funding for power grids. Furthermore, despite the apparent financial stability of the treasury, half of the funds are already reserved for upcoming payments.
This gaming experience is designed to demonstrate the complexities of local self-government. Kayuren Maharaj, founder of the CityMender service tracking platform, has created a new simulation game that places players in charge of a virtual South African municipality. The game recreates infrastructural difficulties, competing demands, and the necessity of balancing finances—issues familiar to those who have observed local government operations.
The game will be available for free through the CityMender app on Wednesday. It offers an opportunity to determine whether the player possesses the potential of a municipal manager, or if their ideal city will collapse before the end of the month.
Maharaj noted that South Africans need a way to understand the issue of service delivery, as it directly affects daily life. He emphasized that while most people know what they want from their municipality, they do not always grasp the full scope of work required for its functioning. Managing money, infrastructure, departments, and resident expectations often happens simultaneously with the emergence of various problems, which can cause stress even within a game.
Players begin in a small town that includes houses, shops, parks, and municipal facilities. As they progress, they unlock new areas such as Siyacula, an informal settlement, the central business district, and Hills, a residential suburb. Each of these areas presents its own unique challenges.
In Siyacula, players must collaborate with the community committee to improve water supply, sanitation, drainage, lighting, and household connections. In the central business district, the priority is maintaining business employment and ensuring reliable municipal services to support economic activity and job creation. The Hills area introduces another feature of South African urban life—special rating zones and urban improvement plots, similar to structures associated with places like Umhlanga and Florida Road, as well as efforts to create a UIP Musgrave.
Maharaj explained that the goal of the game is to simulate municipal operations as accurately as possible while maintaining simple gameplay. He added that although he had never developed a game before, he spent considerable time working on CityMender and solving service delivery issues. He drew inspiration from various simulators but aimed to create a product with a distinct African identity, paying close attention to an attractive and vibrant map that is also fast-loading and easy to navigate.
He expressed confidence that South Africans will appreciate this game. Maharaj also noted that the approaching elections draw much attention to who will manage municipalities, but public participation continues after election day. This includes reporting problems, asking questions, attending meetings, and monitoring the fulfillment of promises. The game provides people with an additional tool to engage with these issues, and understanding the complexity of the processes will help them ask better questions and demand accountability from decision-makers.
