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Comparing South African and Latin American Experience: Migration and Housing Mobility in Soweto

Author

Listed:
  • Alan Gilbert

    (Department of Geography, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP, UK, a.gilbert@geog.ucl.ac.uk)

  • Owen Crankshaw

    (Department of Sociology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa, cranksha@socsci.uct.ac.za)

Abstract

Given similar levels of economic development and inequality, it seems strange that more effort has not been made by South Africans to learn from the earlier experience of urbanisation in countries such as Brazil, Chile and Colombia. The paper shows that there are problems in drawing comparisons about migration and residential movement in Latin America and South Africa, but that there are growing signs of similarity. Some of these similarities were apparent even before the demise of apartheid, a policy that was never consistent and changed many times. The paper observes that South African migrants are becoming more like Latin Americans in demonstrating a growing attachment to the city. Many Sowetans' lives do not fit the model of the 'circular' African migrant; many have lived in Johannesburg for a long time. Semi-permanent residence means that residential movement within the city is increasingly similar to that typical in many Latin American cities. To judge from Latin American experience, the dismantling of formal apartheid is unlikely to reduce levels of social segregation in Johannesburg. Rather, class divisions will be just as effective as apartheid in guaranteeing residential segregation.

Suggested Citation

  • Alan Gilbert & Owen Crankshaw, 1999. "Comparing South African and Latin American Experience: Migration and Housing Mobility in Soweto," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 36(13), pages 2375-2400, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:36:y:1999:i:13:p:2375-2400
    DOI: 10.1080/0042098992476
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alan Gilbert, 1983. "The Tenants of Self‐Help Housing: Choice and Constraint in the Housing Markets of Less Developed Countries," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 14(3), pages 449-477, July.
    2. Alan Morris, 1994. "The Desegregation of Hillbrow, Johannesburg, 1978-82," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 31(6), pages 821-834, June.
    3. A.G. Tipple, 1976. "Self-Help Housing Policies in a Zambian Mining Town," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 13(2), pages 167-169, June.
    4. Peter M. Ward, 1976. "The Squatter Settlement as Slum or Housing Solution: Evidence from Mexico City," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 52(3), pages 330-346.
    5. Gugler, Josef, 1991. "Life in a dual system revisited: Urban-rural ties in Enugu, Nigeria, 1961-87," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 19(5), pages 399-409, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hall Katharine & Posel Dorrit, 2019. "Fragmenting the Family? The Complexity of Household Migration Strategies in Post-apartheid South Africa," IZA Journal of Development and Migration, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 10(2), pages 22-48, August.
    2. Stadler, Jonathan J. & Delany, Sinead & Mntambo, Mdu, 2008. "Women's perceptions and experiences of HIV prevention trials in Soweto, South Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 189-200, January.

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