Spaces of Exclusivity or Connection? Linkages between a Gated Community and its Poorer Neighbour in a Cape Town Master Plan Development

Abstract

This paper considers the impact of urban South Africa's new spatial order on its already fragile social dynamics. Analysis considers the relationships between residents of a gated community and their neighbouring (non-gated) area, addressing both the attitudes and perceptions that exist amongst residents of each area towards the 'other' neighbourhood, as well as the nature of any direct contact between residents. The case study for this paper is located in a master plan private development, constructed in 1999 in the heart of Cape Town's wealthy (and predominantly White) 'southern suburbs'. The development hosts two vastly different residential areas that despite spatial proximity are socially and functionally isolated.

Reimagining the purpose of VET – Expanding the capability to aspire in South African Further Education and Training students

“…Contrary to the findings of Middleton, Ziderman and Adams(1993) who found that youth did not aspire to VET, the opportunity to study at the college is a dream come true for Allan. Living in his early years in what Lemanski (2009) describes as the then "virtually derelict" area of Westlake occupied by people "squatting in the non-serviced informal settlement" and those living in the housing for homeless people (2009: p.10), he regularly travelled past the college and decided then that "[he was] going to come to this college" one day.…”

Gated communities: definitions, causes and consequences

“…The attraction of new services and infrastructure for gated community residents can improve the local economy (Sabatini and Salcedo, 2005) and increase property values (Lemanski, 2005). Gated community developments create low-skilled jobs (Salcedo and Torres, 2004;Svampa, 2001) and increase tax revenues for local governments (Le Goix, 2005).…”

Residential responses to fear (of crime plus) in two Cape Town suburbs: implications for the post‐apartheid city

“…This builds on earlier research in post-apartheid South Africa addressing the social and spatial implications of fear of crime and violence in urban areas (Dirsuweit, 2002;Lemanski, 2004), as well as the role of gated communities (Landman, 2000a(Landman, , 2000b(Landman, , 2004Ballard, 2004b;Dirsuweit and Wafer, 2005;Lemanski, 2006) and Improvement Districts (IDs) (Bénit et al, 2005;Lemanski, 2005) in privatising space and facilitating exclusion in the post-apartheid city. This research focuses on the experiences of residents in two of Cape Town's previously 'white' suburbs in which the vast majority of residents are still white, and thus although a broad range of residents were interviewed, the dominant perspective in this research is 'white'.…”