African Journals Online
Acta Academica

Spatialities of South African urban change: perspectives on post-apartheid urban problems 
and challenges at the beginning of the twenty-first century
Supplementum 2003
ABSTRACTS

Inner-city change in Pretoria: social and spatial trends

Donaldson, Ronnie; Jurgens, Ulrich; Bahr, Jurgen

Abstract: The Pretoria inner-city area and, more specifically, the high-density Sunnyside residential area have experienced major social and spatial changes since the mid-1990s. As in other metropolitan areas, the city's spatial structure has been shaped by urban developmental processes such as decentralisation, desegregation and deconcentration. This article's assessment of these changes in the context of the ways in which the inner city is transforming and positioning itself sheds some light on what we consider an inner-city success story in terms of adaptation to radical changes.

'n Bepaling van binnestedelike verandering in Pretoria

Die Pretoria binnestedelike gebied, en meer spesifiek die hoëdigtheidwoonbuurt, Sunnyside, het sedert die middel-1990's omvattende sosiale en ruimtelike veranderinge ondergaan. Soos ander metropolitaanse gebiede is die stad se ruimtelike struktuur ontvorm deur stedelike ontwikkelingsprosesse soos desentralisasie, desegregasie en dekonsentrasie. 'n Waardebepaling van hierdie veranderinge wat fokus op die maniere waarop die binnestad transformeer, en sigself posisioneer, werp lig op 'n binnestedelike gebied wat in terme van aanpassing by radikale veranderinge as 'n suksesverhaal beskou kan word.

Socio-demographic transformation in the Bloemfontein inner-city area

Jurgens, Ulrich; Marais, Lochner; Barker, Charles; Lombaard, Marisa

Abstract: This article examines residential desegregation in the Bloemfontein Central Business District (CBD) within a theoretical framework and in comparison with other desegregation patterns in the CBDs of other major cities. Although desegregation in the Bloemfontein CBD started later, is less extensive and on a smaller scale than that in other urban areas in South Africa, it has increased rapidly since 1991 and had reached levels of just above 50% by 2001. The low level of desegregation can be attributed to the historically conservative character of Bloemfontein, but also to the compactness of the city of Bloemfontein / Mangaung, where desegregation is not necessarily required as a mechanism for saving on transport costs. It is also argued that the repeal of the Group Areas Act and the consequent desegregation of the inner city have not necessarily resulted in an integrated area with a new South African culture. In fact, this article points out that the opposite has occurred: in the CBD a new level of segregation has emerged, as the degree of desegregation in the northern parts is limited, while a relatively high level of segregation, concomitant with the outflow of white people, is found in the southern parts.

Sosio-demografiese transformasie in die stadskern van Bloemfontein

Dié artikel ondersoek residensiële desegregasie in die sentrale besigheidskern van Bloemfontein teen die agtergrond van 'n teoretiese raamwerk sowel as in vergelyking met desegregasiepatrone in ander stede se sentrale besigheidskerne. Ten spyte daarvan dat desegregasie in Bloemfontein later begin het, minder omvangryk is en op 'n kleiner skaal plaasgevind het as in ander stede, het dit sedert 1991 vinnig na vlakke van meer as 50% in 2001 toegeneem. Die lae vlakke van desegregasie kan aan die histories-konserwatiewe karakter van Bloemfontein sowel as die kompaktheid van die Bloemfontein / Mangaung stadskern waar mense nie hoef te desegregeer om vervoerkoste te spaar nie, toegeskryf word. Daar word verder geargumenteer dat die afskaffing van die Groepsgebiedewet en die gevolglike desegregasie nie noodwendig mense in 'n nuwe Suid-Afrikaanse kultuur verenig het nie. Die artikel toon juis die teenoorgestelde deurdat desegregasie in die noordelike gebied van die sentrale besigheidskern beperk is terwyl die suidelike gebied in 'n nuwe segregasiegebied ontwikkel soos wat blankes toenemend die gebied verlaat.

Upgrading informal housing units: preliminary evidence from Sejake Square

Maishoane, Moeketsi; Marais, Lochner; Barker, Charles

Abstract: A fierce debate has prevailed until the present time as to just what role low-income households can play in providing their own housing environment. The main question is whether it can be assumed that low-income households should be held responsible for their housing needs, or whether the state should be more actively involved in providing housing for these households. In this paper it is argued, by means of a literature overview as well as empirical evidence from Sejake Square, that low-income households, given the right environment, are in fact actively involved in upgrading their informal housing units to better, more formal units. The two most prominent aspects that play a role in this regard are the period of residence and the size of the household in the area. The availability of funding also plays a role in formalisation. The conclusion reached in this paper is that government could consider providing only the infrastructure, and leaving the construction of housing units to low-income households.

Die opgradering van informele behuisingseenhede: voorlopige getuienis uit Sejake Square

Daar is tans nog 'n heftige debat oor die rol wat lae-inkomste-huisgesinne in die behuisingsomgewing kan speel. Kan dit aanvaar word dat lae-inkomste-huisgesinne vir hulle behuisingsbehoeftes verantwoordelik gehou moet word, of kan die staat nie 'n groter rol in die verband speel nie? In die artikel word aan die hand van 'n literatuuroorsig sowel as empiriese gegewens uit Sejake Square geargumenteer dat laeinkomste-huisgesinne, gegewe die geskikte omgewing, aktief by die opgradering van behuisingsbehoeftes betrokke is. Die twee mees prominente faktore is die tyd wat op die spesifieke plek spandeer word en die grootte van die huishouding. Die beskikbaarheid van befondsing speel ook 'n belangrike rol in die uitvoerbaarheid. Die slotsom is dat die regering dit kan oorweeg om slegs die infrastruktuur te voorsien en die behuisingskonstruksie by die lae-inkomste-huisgesinne te laat.

Gentrification: prospects for urban South African society?

Visser, Gustav

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to highlight some of the current international trends in the study of gentrification and assess its potential as the research site in a postapartheid urban context. In the light of international experience and the changing spatialities of post-apartheid cities, it is argued that recent developments in South Africa's city-centres present classic opportunities for gentrification processes to emerge as part of urban regeneration. This exploration assesses this claim in four sections. The first deals with issues of definition, while the second reviews the main theoretical approaches currently employed in understanding gentrification processes. The third section relates this to gentrification research undertaken in South African cities, with the concluding section considering the types of gentrification research issues we might address in the post-apartheid context.

Gentrifikasie: toepassingsmoontlikhede op die Suid-Afrikaanse stedelike samelewing?

Die doel van hierdie artikel is om sommige van die huidige internasionale neigings in die bestudering van gentrifikasie uit te lig en die potensiaal daarvan as navorsingsterrein in 'n post-apartheid stedelike konteks te beoordeel. In die lig van internasionale ervaring en die veranderende ruimtelike benuttingspatrone van postapartheidstede, word daar geargumenteer dat onlangse ontwikkelings in Suid-Afrika se sentrale stedelike areas klassieke geleenthede bied vir gentrifikasieprosesse om pos te vat as deel van stedelike herontwikkeling. Hierdie siening word in vier interafhanklike afdelings ondersoek. In die eerste word aspekte van definisie oorweeg; die tweede bevat 'n oorsig oor die belangrikste teoretiese benaderings wat tans in die bestudering van die gentrifikasieprosesse gevolg word; die derde oorweeg die relevansie hiervan met gentrifikasienavorsing wat aangaande Suid-Afrikaanse stede gedoen word; en in die laaste afdeling word die tipes van gentrifikasienavorsing oorweeg wat in die post-apartheidskonteks aangepak kan word.

Coloured migration in the Cape region at the beginning of the twenty-first century

Bekker, Simon; Cramer, Josef

Abstract: The nature of the urbanisation process among members of the coloured ethnic group in the Western and Northern Cape is changing. Previously, in this region, urbanisation could be described as a process of step-wise gravity flow migration from Cape Town's hinterland to the metropolitan area. This rural-urban process of migration continues, but the favoured destinations are now regional towns rather than Cape Town itself.

Kleurlingmigrasie binne die Kaapse streek aan die begin van die een-en-twintigste eeu

Die aard van die verstedelikingsproses vir lede van die kleurling etniese groep in die Wes- en Noord-Kaap is besig om te verander. Verstedeliking kon vroeër in hierdie streek beskryf word as 'n proses wat stapsgewys plaasgevind het vanuit die landelike hinterland van Kaapstad na die middestad. Hierdie proses van landelike-stedelikemigrasie duur voort, maar gunsteling bestemmings is vandag eerder streeksdorpe en nie meer die stad Kaapstad nie.

Towards "pro-poor" urban development in South Africa: the case of urban agriculture

Rogerson, Christian

Abstract: Planning for urban agriculture can be one element in the development of "pro-poor" urban strategies in South Africa. This article examines international and South African writings and research on the role of urban agriculture in poverty reduction. It is argued that there is a need for policy guidelines to support emerging local-level initiatives aimed at encouraging urban agriculture across South Africa. The foundation for a set of policy guidelines for South Africa may be found in the best practice of international policy interventions for urban agriculture.

Onderweg na "pro-arm" stedelike ontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika: die geval van stedelike landbou

Beplanning vir stedelike landbou kan een aspek vorm vir die ontwikkeling van "proarm" stedelike strategieë in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie artikel ondersoek internasionale en Suid-Afrikaanse publikasies oor die rol van stedelike landbou in armoedebestryding. Daar word betoog dat daar regoor Suid-Afrika 'n behoefte is aan beleidsriglyne ter ondersteuning van nuwe inisiatiewe op 'n plaaslike vlak wat stedelike landbou aanmoedig. Die basis vir 'n stel beleidsriglyne aangaande stedelike landbou in Suid-Afrika kan in die beste praktykervarings van internasionale beleidintervensies gevind word.

Changing economic bases: Orania as a case study of small-town development in South Africa

Kotze, Nico

Abstract: The economic base is the most fundamental factor controlling the growth of a town. Orania's economic base has changed three times. The town came into existence as a result of the development of the Orange River Project. After completing the project, the Department of Water Affairs withdrew from the town in 1989, with the result that it lost its economic base. The town was sold to the Afrikanervryheidstigting (AVSTIG), which saw it as the first town in an envisaged Afrikaner homeland. This provided the impetus for the second, political economic base. The farm Vluytjeskraal, adjacent to Orania, was bought in 1991 and subdivided into smallholdings, which provided the stimulus for the third, agricultural economic base.

'n Verandering in ekonomiese grondslag: Orania as gevallestudie vir kleindorpse ontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika

Die ekonomiese grondslag is die mees fundamentele faktor wat die groei van dorpe en stede beheer. In die geval van Orania het die ekonomiese grondslag drie keer verander. Die dorp het sy ontstaan te danke aan die ontwikkeling van die Oranjerivierprojek. Die Departement van Waterwese het in 1989 na voltooiing van die projek aan die dorp onttrek, met die gevolg dat die dorp sy ekonomiese grondslag verloor het. Die dorp is in Januarie 1991 aan die Afrikanervryheidstigting (AVSTIG) verkoop wat dit beskou het as 'n eerste dorp in 'n moontlike Afrikanertuisland; die impetus vir die tweede, polities-ekonomiese tuisland. In Augustus 1991 is die plaas, Vluytjeskraal, naasliggend aan Orania gekoop en later onderverdeel in kleinhoewes wat die stimulus gebied het vir die derde, landbou-ekonomiese grondslag.

The impact of a developing community on the water quality of an urban river

Pretorius, Lize; De Villiers, Gawie

Abstract: The influence of a developing community on the water quality of an urban river is illustrated in this article. Testing revealed high chemical, physical and microbiological variables, indicating relatively serious pollution. A pollution cycle exists which can only be destroyed by addressing the socio-economic issues influencing water quality.

Die invloed van 'n ontwikkelende gemeenskap op die waterkwaliteit van 'n stedelike rivier

Die invloed van 'n ontwikkelende gemeenskap op die waterkwaliteit van 'n stedelike rivier word in die artikel aangetoon. Toetse het op 'n groot aantal chemiese, fisiese en mikrobiologiese veranderlikes gedui wat 'n betreklik ernstige besoedelingstoestand aandui. 'n Besoedelingsiklus bestaan wat slegs vernietig kan word deur die sosio-ekonomiese probleme, wat 'n impak op waterkwaliteit het, aan te spreek.

Environmental management in the city: electricity supply in Hillsboro, Bloemfontein

Kruger, Eldalize

Abstract: Environmental management necessitates a holistic view of the environment and how we, as human beings, impact on that environment. To apply environmental management, any one of a number of tools may be employed. Environmental impact assessment (EIA), as one of these tools, refers to the assessment of the likely environmental impacts arising from a major project or any other actions that will significantly affect the natural or man-made environment. The ultimate objective of an EIA is to provide decision-makers with an indication of the likely consequences of a proposed project. The South African EIA was developed in such a way as to be applicable to large-scale as well as smaller projects. This article focuses on environmental impact assessment (EIA), the legislation governing it, and applying the process to a small case study, while examining the various stages of an EIA and briefly touching on public participation. The main findings are that an EIA can be applied quite successfully to smaller projects and that an effective public participation process will help consultants and developers to identify key issues and alternatives.

Omgewingsbestuur in die stad: die geval van elektrisiteitsvoorsiening in Hillsboro, Bloemfontein

Omgewingsbestuur vereis 'n holistiese siening van die omgewing en hoe ons as mense op daardie omgewing impakteer. Daar is verskeie hulpmiddels wat gebruik kan word om omgewingsbestuur toe te pas. Omgewingsimpakbepaling (OIB) is so 'n hulpmiddel. Dit verwys na die bepaling van die moontlike omgewingsimpakte wat kan voortspruit uit 'n groot projek of enige ander aktiwiteit wat die natuurlike en mensgemaakte omgewing noemenswaardig sal beïnvloed. Die einddoel van 'n OIB is om aan die besluitnemer moontlike gevolge van die voorgestelde projek uit te wys. Die Suid-Afrikaanse OIB is op so 'n wyse ontwikkel dat dit op beide omvangryke en kleiner projekte toegepas kan word. Hierdie artikel fokus op omgewingsinvloedbepaling (OIB); die wetgewing wat dit reguleer, asook die toepassing van die proses. 'n Klein gevallestudie illustreer die verskillende fases van 'n OIB en raak ook publieke deelname kortliks aan. Daar is primêr bevind dat OIB redelik suksesvol op kleiner projekte toegepas kan word en dat 'n proses van effektiewe publieke deelname konsultante en ontwikkelaars kan help om sleutelaspekte en alternatiewe te identifiseer.

Unvoiced and invisible: on the transparency of white South Africans in post-apartheid geographical discourse

Visser, Gustav

Abstract: Over the past decade South African urban geographers have developed a rich body of research ably narrating the changing spatialities of post-apartheid society. It is the contention of this paper that in mapping this transition the "white" geographies of the apartheid era have merely been replaced by "black" geographies and that situation is frustrating the development of truly post-apartheid geographies since the many-sided dialectic relationships that constitute South African spatialities are being overlooked. Drawing on poverty research as an example, the paper considers ways in which "white South African lives" may be reintroduced to the research practices of South African geographers. To attain this objective it first contextualises the "disappearance" of white geographies with reference to poverty research in South Africa. It then suggests some reasons why South African geographers have failed to offer any analysis of white communities and, in particular, of the marginalised among them. Its final section provides some pointers to possible research themes that might address this oversight.

Ongesê en ongesien: oor die onsigbaarheid van wit Suid-Afrikaners in die post-apartheid geografiediskoers

Suid-Afrikaanse stedelike geograwe het die afgelope dekade heelwat navorsing gedoen oor die veranderende ruimtelikheid van die post-apartheidgemeenskap. Hierdie artikel betoog dat in die kartering van hierdie oorgang die "wit" geografiese gesprek van die apartheidera slegs vervang is deur die "swart" eweknie. Hierdie verskynsel belemmer die ontwikkeling van 'n egte post-apartheidgeografie. Die natuurlike veelsydige kontekste waaruit die Suid-Afrikaanse ruimtelikheid bestaan, word nie in ag geneem nie. Armoedenavorsing word as voorbeeld gebruik om maniere te vind waarop "wit Suid-Afrikaners" weer by die praktyk van navorsing deur Suid-Afrikaanse geograwe betrek kan word. Gevolglik skets die artikel eers die konteks van die "verdwyning" van wit geografie ten opsigte van armoedenavorsing in Suid-Afrika. Daarna word verklarings aangebied waarom Suid-Afrikaanse geograwe nagelaat het om 'n ontleding te doen van wit gemeenskappe, veral van die randstandige wit gemeenskappe. Die laaste afdeling stel moontlike navorsingsonderwerpe voor wat hierdie leemte kan aanspreek.