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

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to assess the prospects for an intermediate size city strategy as part of the decentralisation programme of Southen Africa. Considering both spatial development and experience elsewhere in the world. South African decentralisation policy has failed to use its full potential to accomplish development objectives. Some general criticism is made of the existing industrial decentralisation programme and the challenges of the 1980s are identified. Against this background, the author advocates an intermediate size city strategy for Southern Africa, discusses some spatial considerations and gives some guidelines for the successful implementation of such a strategy.