Multi-talented Ebrahim bids farewell to Joburg after almost 2 decades

Renowned urban strategist and international relations expert Zayd Ebrahim is leaving the City of Johannesburg, ending an 18-year career marked by strategic leadership, international engagement and a commitment to equitable urban development. Ebrahim joined the City in 2008 as a junior planning officer and rose through the ranks to become Group Head: Strategy, Policy Coordination and Relations (GSPCR).

“I started at the ground level and worked my way up, driven by a belief in meaningful work – ensuring Joburg's voice, and that of the Global South, is heard where it matters most," he says.

A key highlight of his career was the development of Johannesburg's inaugural International Relations Strategy in 2012, which strengthened the City's approach to international engagement.

He also served as Johannesburg's Sherpa across several Urban 20 (U20) cycles and represented the City at no fewer than five U20 summits, helping shape its contributions to international urban policy discussions and the G20 urban agenda.

Ebrahim holds multiple Master's degrees, including one awarded cum laude, and has pursued a PhD in Urban Strategy and Complexity at the University of the Witwatersrand. In 2015, he was named among the Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans.

Reflecting on his leadership style, Ebrahim describes himself as democratic and people-focused, with an emphasis on listening, empathy and building relationships.

As he begins his next chapter, colleagues across the City wish Ebrahim every success and happiness in his future endeavours and thank him for his 18 years of service to Johannesburg.

30/09/2026

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