The Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP) has launched The Northern Collective, an invitation-only circle of more than 16 influential women convened to drive coordinated, inclusive urban growth in Bellville and the broader Northern Suburbs of Cape Town.

Officially announced at the GTP Mayor’s Annual Dinner on 25 May 2026 and originally conceptualised in January 2026, the initiative brings together senior female leaders from business, government, education, media, development and civic life. Representatives from Metropolitan, NED, V&A Waterfront, Old Mutual, Nando’s, MediClinic, Company Partners, University of Western Cape (UWC), Sanlam Foundation, Sanlam Sky, Heineken, Tyger Valley Centre, Eris, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and Astron Energy form the core of the leadership circle, which convenes quarterly.

From isolation to collective momentum

Nasmera Buckus, Chief Operating Officer of the GTP, said the initiative was born from a recognition that many of the women shaping the Northern Suburbs were already doing powerful work, but largely in isolation.

“The Northern Collective was born from the recognition that many of the women shaping the Northern Suburbs are already doing powerful work, but usually in isolation and without a shared platform to align that influence. This is about moving from individual impact to collective momentum.”

She added that the initiative reflects the GTP’s broader vision of inclusive urban development built on infrastructure, investment, relationship-building, trust and coordinated leadership across sectors.

Bellville is uniquely positioned for this female-led approach, with its growing role as one of Cape Town’s most important economic and innovation nodes requiring deeper alignment between public, private, and civic leadership.

Turning dialogue into development

A core objective of The Northern Collective is to convert leadership alignment into tangible opportunity pathways for the wider community, particularly for small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs), informal traders and emerging entrepreneurs.

Buckus explained: “The intention is to ensure that influence at leadership level is directly connected to opportunity at community level, particularly for SMMEs, informal traders and emerging entrepreneurs who form the backbone of the local economy.”

The platform is designed to create a structured space where influence held across multiple systems can be directed towards shared priorities such as economic inclusion, community wellbeing, placemaking, and sustainable development, amplifying existing efforts rather than duplicating them.

A moment of strategic significance

The launch comes at a crucial moment for Bellville, which continues to emerge as one of Cape Town’s most strategically significant urban centres for investment, innovation, and regeneration.

GTP’s broader work in circular economy development, informal trading support, public space revitalisation, and skills development and job creation has already demonstrated the impact of coordinated, place-based interventions. The Northern Collective builds on this foundation by strengthening the leadership ecosystem around it.

Portia Hammond of Sanlam Sky, a member of The Northern Collective, says the partnership with GTP is an exciting one. “What makes the GTP so effective is its ability to turn collaboration into tangible outcomes. Their ongoing work in Bellville is creating the right environment for inclusive growth, stronger communities and sustained urban transformation, and we are excited to be on this journey with them.”

Santel van Zyl from Metropolitan echoed the sentiment: “As South Africa moves forward, real progress will increasingly be defined by how effectively women are supported and elevated into leadership. At Metropolitan, we have long championed the growth and empowerment of women in positions of authority, and initiatives like The Northern Collective is an important extension of that commitment in practice.”

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Buckus is resolute about what lies ahead: “The Northern Collective are building a bigger and brighter future. After all, we are better and stronger, only when we work together.”

For more information contact GTP at ceo@gtp.org.za.