A fundamental change is seeping the global economy today, transition towards clean, innovatives, low carbon technologies and infrasrtructures. Sustainability requires the reconcillation of environmental, social equity and economic demands which are referred to as three pillars of sustainability. Sustainability interfaces with economics through the social and environmental consequences of economic activity. Moving towards sustainability is also a social challenge that entails international and national law, urban planning and transport, local and individuals lifestyles and ethical consumerism.Cities are facing a host of environmental problems, from air pollution to wastewater management and green space degradation.This  paper investigate factors that are responsible for sustainable city developement in developed countries, compare to the statu  quo of Johannesburg city deveopment  using past literatures. Finally some suggestions and implications beneficial to the sustainable city developement were drawn from theoretical models and a systematic model was proffer for sustainable city developement in Johannesburg and Africa at large.