Essays
spatial transformation and patterns of urban renewal in the city of Johannesburg
The political change set off spatial transformation and patterns of urban renewal in the city that are both celebrated and contested by the people. Cities are seats of power and arenas of contro: they are where major economic, social, and political activity takes place and also sites of international competition takes place. Thus it is no surprise that significant political changes that took place in 1994, when South Africa became a democratic government from apartheid government, effectively influenced urban fabric of South Africa.
The significant spatial transformation that has happened in South African cities can be traced when one compares South African post apartheid city with its predecessor, the apartheid city. Michael Pacione (2009) observes that the post apartheid city was based on the concept of ‘separate development’ which the Group Areas Acts of 1950 and 1966 and the 1953 Reservation of Separate Amenities Act, passed by the apartheid government, made sure that interracial contact was kept at a minimum . It was a city where the living environments of the different races mirrored their socio-political positions Michael Pacione (2009). The structure was that the highly esteemed economic activities and social activities were in the CBD the high income and middle in come settlements were near the CBD and the informal settlement and the industrial areas were in periphery of the city. Chipkin, C.M (2008) explains that during apartheid, Johannesburg was characterised with endless marginalised townships on the south-west peripheryie Soweto. Each race had designated spots in the city where they were separated by buffer zones and there was minimum number of open space sand public space to prevent any protest of people.
One may argue that there has not been much change in the cities even after 18 years into democracy. Johannesburg sill has marginalised townships such as
The political change set off spatial transformation and patterns of urban renewal in the city that are both celebrated and contested by the people. Cities are seats of power and arenas of contro: they are where major economic, social, and political activity takes place and also sites of international competition takes place. Thus it is no surprise that significant political changes that took place in 1994, when South Africa became a democratic government from apartheid government, effectively influenced urban fabric of South Africa.
The significant spatial transformation that has happened in South African cities can be traced when one compares South African post apartheid city with its predecessor, the apartheid city. Michael Pacione (2009) observes that the post apartheid city was based on the concept of ‘separate development’ which the Group Areas Acts of 1950 and 1966 and the 1953 Reservation of Separate Amenities Act, passed by the apartheid government, made sure that interracial contact was kept at a minimum . It was a city where the living environments of the different races mirrored their socio-political positions Michael Pacione (2009). The structure was that the highly esteemed economic activities and social activities were in the CBD the high income and middle in come settlements were near the CBD and the informal settlement and the industrial areas were in periphery of the city. Chipkin, C.M (2008) explains that during apartheid, Johannesburg was characterised with endless marginalised townships on the south-west peripheryie Soweto. Each race had designated spots in the city where they were separated by buffer zones and there was minimum number of open space sand public space to prevent any protest of people.
One may argue that there has not been much change in the cities even after 18 years into democracy. Johannesburg sill has marginalised townships such as