The spatial formation of the South African City

Abstract

Abstract:The South African social formation is characterised by a distinctively large social distance. This paper traces the evolution of the social formation, identifies some of its parameter and demonstrates its on the urbanisation process and the urban structure. Within this framework, a Segregation City and an Apartheid City are recognised, representing two sequential but interrelated phases of urban development separated by the acceptance of a formal Apartheid ideology and development strategy from 1948 onwards.The segregation of race and ethnic groups has historically been a central characteristic of social, economic and spatial organization in the South African city. It is a function of society that no South African can escape and that pervades all facets of urban living. This paper has the limited objective of outlining elements of race and ethnic spatial segregation in the residential structure of the South African city and of identifying some of the social, political, and economic underpinnings of the social formation from which urban space forming processes arise.

The influence of residential desegregation on property prices in South Africa: The Peitersburg case study

“…Pietersburg, the capital and economic heartland of the Northern Province, is a classic example of Davies's (1981) apartheid city model. Most traditional white residential areas lie to the east of the CBD, and the residential areas with the highest property values are located on the north-eastern periphery of the city.…”

Churches claiming a right to the city? Lived urbanisms in the City of Tshwane

“…As we begin to hone in on our contemporary situation and the particular regions of our comparative study, we have to bear in mind that the systematic segregation by race over many decades built a 'bastardized city structure' and a prototype Apartheid city (Christopher 1983(Christopher , 1987Davies 1981;Mphahlele 1959;Thomlinson 1990). Since 1994 the urban landscape of the city has changed considerably in some ways, but -in essence -it could indeed be asked if the apartheid city has been fully dismantled.…”

Gated-Communities in South Africa’s Urban Areas 20 Years into Democracy: Old Wine in Newly Designed Bottles?

“…South Africa's apartheid urban settlement planning model has left the footprints of spatial, economic and social segregation in most towns and cities (Davies, 1981;Simon, 1986;Massey et al, 1987;Christopher, 1989Christopher, , 1990Christopher, , 1995Christopher, , 1997Christopher, , 2004Freund, 2001;Charles, 2003;Oldfield, 2004;Donaldson & Kotze, 2006;Lemanski, 2006). This urban settlement planning model was used as an effective tool to ensure segregation amongst the White, Black, Coloured and Indian populations (Freund, 2001;Charles, 2003;K'Akumu & Olima, 2007).…”

“…The apartheid urban settlement planning model influenced the allocation of resources amongst and segregated the White, Black, Coloured and Indian populations in South Africa prior to 1994 (Davies, 1981;Simon, 1986;Massey, Condran & Denton, 1987;Christopher, 1989Christopher, , 1990Christopher, , 1995Christopher, , 1997Christopher, , 2004Freund, 2001;Charles, 2003;Oldfield, 2004;Donaldson & Kotze, 2006;Lemanski, 2006;K'Akumu & Olima, 2007). In order to address the negative consequences of the apartheid urban settlement planning model, post 1994 there has been a number of spatial initiatives with the intension to integrate the segregated populations especially in the same urban settlements (Christopher, 2004;Donaldson & Kotze, 2006;Lemanski, 2006;K'Akumu & Olima, 2007).…”