Industrial decentralization under apartheid: The relocation of industry to the South African periphery

Homeland Multipliers and the Decentralisation Policy

“…This point is forcefully illustrated by 1991 SAJE v59(1) p41 a study in Region D which showed that more than 80 per cent of the surveyed firms obtained less than 10 per cent of inputs from within the region, while only 25 per cent sold more than 50 per cent of their output locally (Black et al, 1987:34). The results of similar studies elsewhere tend to confirm this trend (Dewar et al, 1984;Smith and Coetzee, 1987;Wellings and Black, 1986). A major reason for this problem concerns the number of growth points receiving financial incentives.…”

Industrial Decentralization Policy in South Africa: Rhetoric and Practice

“…The most significant aspect of this is a tendency for more capital-intensive sectors to be over-represented in the survey results. Nonetheless, the general picture which emerges from the evaluation seems, on the basis of collaboratory evidence, to be a reliable one (see Wellings and Black, 1986).…”

Prospects for the development of intermediate size cities as part of a decentralisation programme for Southern Africa

“…Some of the most important points of criticism regarding the space economy of the proposals were the following: -Restrictions on metropolitan growth hampered economic growth in general (McCarthy, 1985:211;Wellings & Black, 1986:12 & 16;and Maasdorp, 1985:222). It seems that employment creation in the cities has been foregone to a greater extent than decentralised employment has been created, as a result of the response of industrialists to these restrictions (Bell & Padayachee, 1984:435;Rogerson & Kobben, 1982:26-27;Todes & Watson, 1985:181;Maasdorp 1985:226-227;McCarthy, 1985:214-216 andWellings &Black, 1986:3). The loss has been to labour, to Black development more generally, and to the current and future efficiency of South Africa's industrial structure" (Tomlinson & Addleson, 1985:181).…”

“…-Decentralisation policy achieved little in terms of altering the regional pattern of economic activity and employment over the last 28 years (Addleson, Pretorius & Tomlinson, 1985:179;Addleson &Tomlinson, 1986:155;Wellings &Black, 1986:1 andKok, 1985:166).…”