Conceptualising slum in an urban African context

Smit, Suzanne; Musango, Josephine Kaviti; Kovacic, Zora; Brent, Alan C.

doi:10.1016/j.cities.2016.12.018

Cited by 58 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The vertical integration between different types of urban settlements, the formally recognised Kayamandi and the informal settlement of Enkanini, adds to the complexity of the system. This further suggests that informal settlements are not simply a low income neighbourhood but rather another hierarchical level of residential organisation that should be considered within the analysis of urban systems (Smit, Musango, Kovacic, & Brent, 2016).…”

Section: Technical Uncertaintymentioning

confidence: 99%

Probing uncertainty levels of electrification in informal urban settlements: A case from South Africa

Kovacic

Smit

Musango

et al. 2016

Habitat International

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a b s t r a c tThis paper assesses the different levels of uncertainty that affect the analysis of informal urban settlements and the implementation of upgrading policies, with a specific focus on electrification. The rapid growth of informal settlements in the cities of the Global South poses serious challenges to the management of energy systems, particularly when it comes to the electricity grid. Informal urban settlements are characterized by the lack of urban planning and low or absent provision of public services. Exponential population growth increases the complexity of urban planning. An inadequate understanding of uncertainty can undermine the effectiveness of informal settlement upgrading and deepen social inequalities. Based on the case study of the Enkanini settlement in Stellenbosch, South Africa, this paper probes three levels of uncertainty: (i) methodological uncertainty associated with the challenge of estimating energy demand and demographic changes, (ii) technical uncertainty associated with the expansion of the electric grid and securing revenues, and (iii) epistemological uncertainty associated with the definition of the relevant problems and pertinent solutions for informal settlements. The paper highlights how the focus of technical uncertainty displaces the debate on the socio-political challenges of informal settlement upgrading.

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Section: Technical Uncertaintymentioning

confidence: 99%

Probing uncertainty levels of electrification in informal urban settlements: A case from South Africa

Kovacic

Smit

Musango

et al. 2016

Habitat International

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“…Increasing urbanization, coupled with the proliferation of slums, particularly in developing countries, give rise to the need for a holistic approach and understanding of the functioning of slums, and their connection to the wider urban system (Smit et al. ; Guibrunet and Castán Broto ; Guibrunet et al. ; Attia and Khalil ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The analysis of slums or informal settlements should not solely be based on their physical, geographical, and legal characteristics (Smit et al. ), but should also consider their societal metabolism in relation to the overall city. This is because slums are not self‐evident units of analysis and are connected to the broader urban metabolism (UM) in many different ways.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This has led several authors to call for a politicization of UM (Newell and Cousins ; Smit et al. ) and the inclusion of urban informal settlements or slums in the study of UM (Smit et al. ; Guibrunet et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…) and the inclusion of urban informal settlements or slums in the study of UM (Smit et al. ; Guibrunet et al. ; Attia and Khalil ; Currie and Musango ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Towards Measuring the Informal City: A Societal Metabolism Approach

Smit

Musango

Kovacic

et al. 2018

J of Industrial Ecology

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Summary The rapid growth of urban informal settlements, or slums, poses a particular challenge for balancing developmental and environmental goals. In South Africa, high levels of inequality, poverty, and unemployment contribute to widespread migration. The influx of migrant workers to cities, however, is rarely matched with adequate housing and infrastructure, resulting in the formation and growth of urban informal settlements. Despite the persistence of the slum phenomenon, very few studies provide an in‐depth understanding of the metabolic processes that link these spaces, and informal economies, to the broader urban environment and economy. This article therefore utilized a multiscale integrated assessment of the societal and ecosystem metabolism approach to examine human activity and land use in Enkanini, an urban informal settlement in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The results highlight a number of issues to be addressed through spatial, developmental, and local economic policy, such as the need for improved transport linkages. The time‐use results show that Enkanini is a net provider of labor to the surrounding area. Further, geographical mapping indicates Enkanini as a small, but vibrant, informal economy, while being grossly underserviced in terms of water, waste, and sanitation infrastructure. Key implications are discussed in terms of the theoretical, methodological, societal, and policy impact of the study, including the need for city observatories that conduct regular data collection and analysis.

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Modelling gendered innovation for the security of energy services in poor urban environments

et al. 2021

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The security of energy services remains a challenge in poor urban Africa. Many households lack adequate energy technological devices to match modern energy carriers to fulfil their energy service needs. Females are most affected because of the culturally embedded gender roles at the household level.Despite the disproportionate gender roles in energy services, gender dimensions remain covert in the energy products innovation process. The study explored how gendered innovation augments energy innovation and addresses the problem relating to the security or fulfilment of energy services of households in poor urban environments. The study used system dynamics modelling to define the dynamic feedback loops, encompassing the security of energy services, households in poor urban environments, and gendered innovation. The results show that a gender-sensitive, user-centric innovation can help fulfil household energy services. The template model will be customised and applied in two poor urban environments in South Africa.

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Conceptualising slum in an urban African context

Cited by 58 publications

References 39 publications

Probing uncertainty levels of electrification in informal urban settlements: A case from South Africa

Probing uncertainty levels of electrification in informal urban settlements: A case from South Africa

Towards Measuring the Informal City: A Societal Metabolism Approach

Modelling gendered innovation for the security of energy services in poor urban environments

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