Transformation of residential planning in Umtata during the post-apartheid transition era

Abstract

The political changes in South Africa after 1994 necessitated that the Bantustans, the main servers of apartheid planning, be re-incorporated into the mainstream of South Africa, implying the transformation of apartheid residential planning. Since then there has been much speculation about the type of transformation that would be implemented in the Bantustans to effect change in a non-racial South Africa. The aim of this paper is to analyze the effects of post-apartheid territorial restructuring in the former South African Bantustans. Examining and elucidating the manner in which the diverse social, economic and political factors have manifested themselves in the process of transformation of spatial residential planning in Umtata (the former capital city of the Transkei Bantustan) since 1994 is the central theme of this paper. Using property registers together with changes in legislative policies and land ownership, the transformation pattern was analysed in the former Bantustan capital city (Umtata). The findings indicate that the new South African policies and development strategies have been partially successful in eliminating the incongruencies of the past with regard to access to housing in Umtata. More critical is that this paper suggests that there still remains a greater challenge lingering from the influence of the Bantustan government in the city.

Using Municipal Tourism Assets for Leveraging Local Economic Development in South Africa

“…The municipality has a total population estimated (2016) as 490 000 (99.1 percent Black African). The two largest settlements are Mqanduli and Mthatha (150 000 people); the latter formerly as Umtata was the 'capital city' of the so-termed 'independent' Transkei until its reintegration into South Africa following democratic transition and with negative ramifications for the local economy as its governmental role was diminished (Siyongwana, 2005(Siyongwana, , 2009. Of interest is that Mthatha is one of South Africa's 'urban' places where the major part of its population lives in rural settings (de Witt and Ndzamela, 2018).…”

Peripheral Tourism Trajectories: Evidence From the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, South Africa

“…A diagnostic research investigation produced by the Eastern Cape Socio-Economic Consultative Council (2017) pointed to 12.4 percent of the municipal population as infected with HIV. In terms of the local economy this municipality was negatively impacted by 1994 democratic transition and the re-incorporation of Transkei into South Africa (Siyongwana, 2005). Umtata lost its status as a preferred 'growth point' for decentralization of manufacturing in terms of changes in location incentives enacted in 1991.…”

Rethinking Bundy: Land and the black middle class – accumulation beyond the peasantry

“…As in the rest of urban South Africa, Mthatha's population has increased significantly because people from the surrounding villages moved into town in search of employment opportunities, mainly in white-collar professions and social services (Makgetla, 2010). The population of Mthatha is reported to have increased from 72 000 in 1991 to 91 000 in 2001 (Siyongwana, 2005), while later estimates put the figure at around 150 000 (Harrison, 2010). This, coupled with the inadequate provision of low-cost housing during the 'independence' era (Siyongwana, 2005), has increased the demand for housing, which has in turn enhanced the position of landowners.…”

“…The population of Mthatha is reported to have increased from 72 000 in 1991 to 91 000 in 2001 (Siyongwana, 2005), while later estimates put the figure at around 150 000 (Harrison, 2010). This, coupled with the inadequate provision of low-cost housing during the 'independence' era (Siyongwana, 2005), has increased the demand for housing, which has in turn enhanced the position of landowners. There is differentiation among the landowners in this regard: those with more financial resources undertake large-scale suburban developments, while those with fewer resources invest in smaller projects.…”