[TEDxCapeTown] Speaker profile: Sizwe Mxobo

Sizwe studied Town and Regional Planning at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), his interest and passion lies in informal settlement upgrading in unison with public participation which is seen as a founding key element of such a process.

Sizwe was recently honoured by the South African Planning Institute (SAPI) with the 2014: National Planning Award: Outstanding Young Planner.

Tell us more about CORC, and how you got involved?

Mxobo: CORC is an NGO for professionals and grassroots activists to think independently yet act collectively. It provides support for two types of community networks. The first is informal settlements that are mobilised around certain issues including land, evictions, basic services informal settlement upgrading and citizenship. The second network is the women's collectives that are mobilised through savings.

I was born and raised in an informal settlement, and one day while I was in lectures I came across CORC. I started working with the people there and have now been there for four and half years.

Will this be your first TEDx presentation, how are you feeling about it?

Mxobo: Yes it is my first TEDx presentation. I feel very excited to give my talk, but also nervous and worried about the audience.

What are you looking forward to the most?

Mxobo: I'm mostly looking forward to my presentation and being able to share my story with the audience. I'm also looking forward to the atmosphere at TEDxCapeTown this year.

What is your interpretation on the theme: Open Access Control?

Mxobo: I think it's an interesting concept. The first thing I thought about is toilets, and the issue of them especially in the informal settlements. The basic service, which is a right we should all have, should be open and accessible to everyone, yet it isn't and it's a controlled service. I also thought about other services which are open, and how they are controlled and accessed.

How will your presentation relate to the theme?

Mxobo: My presentation will touch on some of the key points. It will be about service delivery and creating access in informal settlements, and how my experience with CORC is shaping this.

Do you have a website or twitter profile for the audience to follow you?

Mxobo: I'm not very active on Twitter, but my profile is @snm442. You can find out more about CORC by visiting http://sasdialliance.org.za/about/corc/.

Ticket information for TEDxCapeTown can be found on Quicket.

For more, visit www.tedxcapetown.org/.

Join our Jozi simulcast taking place at Jozi Hub, 44 Stanley in Milpark. For more details click here.

*Accenture South Africa has partnered with TEDxCapeTown in 2015 to ensure #IdeasWorthSpreading

About TEDx, x=independently organised event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organised events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.

These local, self-organised events are branded TEDx, where x=independently organised TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organised.*

About TED

TED is a global community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world. On TED.com, we're building a clearinghouse of free knowledge from the world's most inspired thinkers - and a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other, both online and at TED and TEDx events around the world, all year long.