Participative approaches to responsive urban renewal strategies in Ponte City, Johannesburg
Date
2015
Authors
Roets, Jacobus Frederick
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Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Ponte City as a single, explanatory case study as an example of how social capital has enabled residents, through participation to contribute to an inclusive and well-managed living space. The research used social capital as an analytical framework, premised on it being a driver of civic participation leading to an inclusive and sustainable urban regeneration strategy. Data was collected using focus groups and interviews from residents of Ponte City, and showed that not all social capital bonds automatically supported the emergence of stronger networks of solidarity. Stronger bonding capital kept individuals from linking into a larger social network where engagements were based on trust and reciprocity. Social capital was not the magic solution to the problems of urban decay. Increased levels of bridging and linking social capital encouraged meaningful participation, deeper trust, innovation and more opportunities to collectively address problems, even in the absence of formal inclusive participatory structures. Bridging and linking social capital enabled participation, which gave a sense of agency, which led to feelings of belonging and investment. Residents that expressed a sense of belonging to a particular area were also more likely to continue to invest in social and capital terms. The hierarchical, top-down management style at Ponte City provided residents with a sound building in terms of infrastructure and personal safety, but the exclusionary management alienated many residents from each other and from management, increasing residents’ perceived vulnerability.
Description
Thesis (M.M. (Public and Development Management))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, 2015.