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Is urbanisation in South Africa on a sustainable trajectory?

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  • Ivan Turok
  • Jacqueline Borel-Saladin

Abstract

Urbanisation is an important but contested process because of its far-reaching social, economic and environmental implications. The paper explores the relationship between urbanisation and living conditions in South Africa over the last decade. The central question addressed is whether population growth in the main cities has been accompanied by improved living standards, housing and public services. One finding is that employment growth has tended to coincide with demographic trends, which is necessary to reduce poverty. In addition, the provision of urban infrastructure has outstripped population growth, resulting in better access to essential services and reduced backlogs. In contrast, the provision of affordable housing has not kept pace with household growth, so more people than ever are living in shacks. A more comprehensive assessment is required before one can be sure that urbanisation is on a sustainable trajectory.

Suggested Citation

  • Ivan Turok & Jacqueline Borel-Saladin, 2014. "Is urbanisation in South Africa on a sustainable trajectory?," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(5), pages 675-691, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:deveza:v:31:y:2014:i:5:p:675-691
    DOI: 10.1080/0376835X.2014.937524
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mary Nkosi & Fhumulani I. Mathivha, 2025. "The Application of CA–MLP–ANN in Assessing Urbanisation in Quaternary Catchment X22J of Mpumalanga, South Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Matlou Lesley Mokgobu & Roger B Mason & Thomas Dobbelstein, 2023. "Challenges during installation and maintenance of water delivery infrastructure: a citizen perspective," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 12(7), pages 427-442, October.
    3. Choumert-Nkolo, Johanna & le Roux, Leonard, 2024. "Leaving the hearth you know: Internal migration and energy poverty," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    4. Joseph Chisasa & Prudence Khumalo, 2023. "Exploring the nexus between migration and urbanisation in the Southern Africa region," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 12(10), pages 85-95, December.
    5. Ivan Turok, 2016. "South Africa's new urban agenda: Transformation or compensation?," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 31(1-2), pages 9-27, February.
    6. Adrien Fabre & Thomas Douenne & Linus Mattauch, 2023. "International Attitudes Toward Global Policies," Working Papers 2023.01, FAERE - French Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.
    7. Andrew Phiri, 2020. "Creative industries and economic performance: Should South Africa go to the movies?," Working Papers 2002, Department of Economics, Nelson Mandela University, revised Jan 2020.
    8. Ernest Haou & Ndonaye Allarané & Cyprien Coffi Aholou & Ouya Bondoro, 2024. "Stakeholder-Based Optimal Indicators for Urban Sustainability Assessment in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case Study from the City of Moundou in Chad," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-37, September.
    9. Sithabile Hlahla & Trevor R. Hill, 2018. "Responses to Climate Variability in Urban Poor Communities in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa," SAGE Open, , vol. 8(3), pages 21582440188, September.
    10. Bopaki Phogole & Kowiyou Yessoufou, 2022. "Biodiversity and Economy but Not Social Factors Predict Human Population Dynamics in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-13, July.
    11. Florian Kroll & Elizabeth Catherina Swart & Reginald Adjetey Annan & Anne Marie Thow & David Neves & Charles Apprey & Linda Nana Esi Aduku & Nana Ama Frimpomaa Agyapong & Jean-Claude Moubarac & Andrie, 2019. "Mapping Obesogenic Food Environments in South Africa and Ghana: Correlations and Contradictions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-31, July.

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