Across South Africa, many of our towns and cities are hurting. Declining services, unemployment, broken infrastructure, and loss of hope have become part of daily life.
For our founder, Matt Hogarty, this reality once led to frustration and constant complaining, until a moment that changed everything. One simple question from his young daughter cut through the negativity: “Why don’t you do something about it?”
That moment marked the beginning of Love Cities, a movement built on the belief that ordinary people, working together, can restore hope and rebuild their communities.
We provide a trusted platform where communities, organisations, government, and business collaborate to solve local challenges together.
We bring partners together around shared goals, helping them combine skills, resources, and relationships to create greater impact.
We make it easier for partners to access and share financial, human, and informational resources to support their work.
We create spaces to share best practices, research, and new ideas learning from both successes and challenges.
We help amplify important social issues through advocacy, public engagement, and community mobilisation.
Through training, workshops, and mentoring, we support partners to grow stronger, more effective, and more sustainable.
We foster a community of encouragement, practical advice, and shared learning that supports long-term wellbeing.
We help partners track impact, learn from results, and clearly communicate outcomes to stakeholders.
Behind Love Cities is a passionate team of community builders, practitioners, and leaders who believe lasting change happens when people work together.
Transformative leader with experience across civil society, government, academia, and the corporate sector. Judith has held senior leadership roles focused on strategy, systems, policy, and participatory development. She is passionate about collaboration and long-term social transformation.
Community development practitioner based in the KZN Midlands. Justin began his career in education before completing an MBA at the University of Cape Town. He has co-founded social enterprise initiatives and is passionate about education, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic opportunity.
Business strategist, marketing expert, and author with international consulting experience across South Africa, Australia, the UK, Kenya, and Zambia. Dianne has led marketing agencies, mentored executive teams, and served in leadership roles across business, education, and community organisations.
Entrepreneur, former school principal, and community leader with qualifications in Management, Economics, and Education. Founder of Love Cities NPC, Love uMngeni NPC, and former founder of Oasis Preparatory School. Matt leads the vision and strategy behind the movement, driving collaboration and positive community transformation.
uMngeni Local Municipality is a public institution in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, responsible for local governance and service delivery within the uMgungundlovu District. Named after the uMngeni River, the municipality plays a key role in supporting sustainable development, community wellbeing, and collaborative local economic growth.
FNB is one of South Africa’s leading financial institutions, offering innovative banking solutions for individuals, businesses, and communities. Through its commitment to entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and social impact initiatives, FNB actively supports the growth of sustainable businesses and community development across the country.
The ABCD Institute is a global leader in asset-based community development, focused on strengthening communities by identifying and mobilising existing local strengths and resources. It equips practitioners and organisations worldwide to build sustainable, community-led development from within.
Daily Maverick is an independent South African news and analysis platform known for its investigative journalism, in-depth reporting, and commitment to public interest storytelling. It plays a key role in promoting transparency, accountability, and informed civic engagement.
Inscape is a leading higher education institution in South Africa, specialising in design, innovation, and creative education. It equips students with future-focused skills across disciplines such as design, architecture, and business innovation, fostering creative problem-solving for real-world impact.
