IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

Contemporary South African cities and towns reflect the legacy of colonial and apartheid planning, with most inhabitants trapped in dormitory townships, devoid of meaningful economic opportunities, underserved in terms of essential utility services, remotely located from established urban centres, and poorly serviced by unaffordable public transport. In contrast, wealthy urban residents are in more accessible locations, including gated communities and leafy suburbs. Internationally, spatial transformation is regarded as a radical physical transformation of neighbourhoods, towns and cities and is often associated with urban regeneration and renewal. This paper aims to understand why spatial transformation is not happening within South African regions and urban and rural areas. Even though South Africa has developed significant legislation and policies aimed at reconstruction, development, and spatial transformation in the post-1994 era, evidence shows that racial, spatial, and economic segregation has become further entrenched. Existing planning administration and delivery models perpetuate unintegrated spatial patterns and have confined efforts to move beyond the apartheid city model. Therefore, this paper aims to address a pertinent question: how do spatial development frameworks (as strategic regional plans) impact spatial transformation? This question will be addressed through the theory of change approach, ultimately proposing a unique definition for spatial transformation for the South African context through a multi-lens approach.