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This is a compilation of 11 essays based on research undertaken at various points in the recent past on what the authors regard as African urban neighborhoods. Reading through the book, it becomes obvious that the essays are divided into two broad groups: what the editors call the geographical or spatial approaches to the African neighborhood on the one hand, and an anthropological approach on the other, although the editors do not really indicate where the essays on the first approach end and where essays on the second begin. The first approach, it is argued, represents neighborhood as community of space, while the second portrays neighborhood as community of interest. While the former refers to identifiable spatial units, the latter is much more fluid, as it refers to social networks that often transcend geographical boundaries. The editors argue that the approaches are not incompatible, although the grouping of essays itself does not seem to support this.To the editors, the resurrection of the notion of the neighborhood is provoked by the African urban crisis and the place of the neighborhood in this crisis. The basic question is whether neighborhood-based identities, networks and livelihoods are becoming less or more significant as the urban crisis deepens as a consequence of current economic crisis and economic and political liberalization.Two themes seem to weave together the essays adopting the spatial approach to neighborhood-based networks. The first is their exclusive focus on disadvantaged African neighborhoods and how residents cope with economic crises, characterized by contracting formal sector jobs and falling real wages, as well as deteriorating infrastructure and services. The second is their celebration of the ingenuity of majority of residents in these neighborhoods, who, they argue, "have not passively watched conditions deteriorate…. [but have been] active agents, devising alternative Urban Forum (2011) 22:111-113
This is a compilation of 11 essays based on research undertaken at various points in the recent past on what the authors regard as African urban neighborhoods. Reading through the book, it becomes obvious that the essays are divided into two broad groups: what the editors call the geographical or spatial approaches to the African neighborhood on the one hand, and an anthropological approach on the other, although the editors do not really indicate where the essays on the first approach end and where essays on the second begin. The first approach, it is argued, represents neighborhood as community of space, while the second portrays neighborhood as community of interest. While the former refers to identifiable spatial units, the latter is much more fluid, as it refers to social networks that often transcend geographical boundaries. The editors argue that the approaches are not incompatible, although the grouping of essays itself does not seem to support this.To the editors, the resurrection of the notion of the neighborhood is provoked by the African urban crisis and the place of the neighborhood in this crisis. The basic question is whether neighborhood-based identities, networks and livelihoods are becoming less or more significant as the urban crisis deepens as a consequence of current economic crisis and economic and political liberalization.Two themes seem to weave together the essays adopting the spatial approach to neighborhood-based networks. The first is their exclusive focus on disadvantaged African neighborhoods and how residents cope with economic crises, characterized by contracting formal sector jobs and falling real wages, as well as deteriorating infrastructure and services. The second is their celebration of the ingenuity of majority of residents in these neighborhoods, who, they argue, "have not passively watched conditions deteriorate…. [but have been] active agents, devising alternative Urban Forum (2011) 22:111-113
Abstract:The importance of rural development has long since been known but it has specific relevance to South Africa, where the poor quality of life is driving rural resident to migrate toward urban areas. This is turn is causing worrying problems for cities and towns which have to provide housing and services to the increased influx of new residents. The only solution to the rural exodus is to redevelop rural areas into sustainable communities. Having a clear definition and understanding of sustainable development and sustainable communities is a prerequisite in developing sustainable rural communities. To this end the Venn diagram of sustainability as it applies to communities is utilized, to incorporate social, environmental and economic issues into sustainable community planning and development. From this a better understanding of the interactions between the various spheres of sustainability can be had, leading to a better understanding of sustainable community development as a whole. Unfortunately there are several challenges in achieving sustainable rural communities. While most of these challenges are well known there are a few that are unique to the South African rural sphere. If development plans and policies aren't tailor made to adapt to these specific challenges then sustainable community development will never be possible in rural South Africa.
Even though Africa is one of the least urbanized regions in the world it is also the region in which cities grow the fastest, resulting in urban areas experiencing a wide spectrum of problems while rural areas are left drained. It is widely acknowledged that the vast majority of rural inhabitants in developing countries live below the poverty line, but what is not so widely known is the extent to which the livelihoods and well-being of these rural areas are linked to their urban counterparts.It has become increasingly difficult to separate communities into rural or urban entities/areas due to many households relying on both urban and rural based resources, this is especially true in South Africa where the Apartheid legacy has had a lingering effect on urban-rural linkages. In South Africa the interdependence between rural communities and distant cities are higher than elsewhere with many rural residents living in urban domains while maintaining family, social and financial ties in rural areas.Rural areas in South Africa have been experiencing economic and social decay over the past decades due to urban migration and this in turn has reduced the provision of services, facilities and employment opportunities in rural areas. It is due to these factors that the concept of sustainable rural community development is of particular relevance to South Africa. Sustainable rural community development is necessary in order to achieve more integrated and sustainable rural areas with a better environment and a higher quality of life and an understanding of the complex linkages between urban and rural areas in required for the The Sustainable City IX, Vol. 1 453 successful planning of rural sustainable development. This paper examines how these multifaceted linkages impacts on sustainable community development in the unique case of the Vaalharts area.
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