Apartheid and Urban Segregation Levels in South Africa

Abstract

The policy of apartheid, or racial separation, in South Africa has been one of the most controversial political problems in the latter part of the 20th century. Levels of racial segregation in South African cities have risen markedly in the 20th century as a consequence of legislative programmes, which have also had the result of introducing greater uniformity between the provinces (although the colonial heritage has not been eliminated entirely) . The process would appear to have reached its conclusion with a lessening of intent on the part of the government and the survival of some elements of colonial integration . Urban segregation levels have attained remarkably high levels, although the goal of total separation has eluded the White legislators .

Longitudinal and contemporaneous manganese exposure in apartheid-era South Africa: Implications for the past and future

“…Individual ancestry was presented in racial groups and individuals were classified as either black or white. These records are based on information provided by the admitting hospital at the time of death and based on the Population Registration Act, which classified South African individuals by race (Christopher, 1990). Hospital in Table 1 refers to the city in which the admitting hospital is located and is used as a proxy for residential history.…”

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).…”

“…However, this spatial spread of the urban settlement carried significant costs for those who resided in townships due to daily commuting to the urban centres. Therefore, the apartheid settlement planning resulted in a system of unequal access to socioeconomic resources in most towns and cities (Christopher, 1990(Christopher, , 2004RSA, 2001). Furthermore, this urban settlement planning model caused urban displacement, distortion, fragmentation, incoherence, inequality and inefficiency in towns and cities.…”

“…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).…”

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing: A Reckoning with Government‐Sponsored Segregation in the 21st Century

“…Second, the measured rate of segregation in 1970 was exceptionally high, not far from that measured in South Africa under apartheid. 6 Our current measure of segregation, 59.0, reflects very high levels of segregation. In real world terms, it means that more than half of African Americans (or whites) would have to move residence to achieve a fully integrated society.…”