An investigation into land ownership patterns and land use in peri-urban areas surrounding the city of Johannesburg: a case study of Midvaal municipality, in Gauteng province, South Africa
Date
2016
Authors
Mathabela, Pinky
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Abstract
The study pursues the examination of transition in peri-urban areas through the case study
of Midvaal Local Municipality. Peri-urban areas are experiencing a transition from rural urban
coexistence to urban dominance. The peri-urban urban concept remains a complex one to
define. Peri-urban concept has been accepted to mean the urban and rural linkages that are
mutually reinforcing. Literature has reflected on urban bias developments of peri-urban
areas with rural function being subdued. There is evidence of competing tensions between
rural and urban functions. These tensions arise from competing interests such as residential
estate developments and industrialisation of peri-urban zones. The study explores the urban
bias extended to peri-urban zones that has potential to underscore rural functions, such as
farming. Theoretical constructs assist to contextualise the transition in the peri-urban areas.
There is convergence in the body of literature over transition of the peri-urban areas albeit
not homogeneous. Unique country and within country transition of peri-urban zones make it
difficult to forecast growth trajectory of peri-urban zones.
The study finds that peri-urban developments have taken an affluent development trend,
redefining the peri-urban as zones of high consumption. It is established that ultra-rich
people are attracted to Midvaal. Accordingly, there are exclusive upmarket estates, namely,
Eye of Africa golfing estate and Blue Saddle Ranches equestrian estate. These affluent
development trends fracture the conceptualisation of peri-urban areas as vulnerable, poor
areas that are a consequence of urban sprawl. Some of the pro-urban developments in periurban
areas results in irrecoverable loss of agricultural land. Often, urban bias functions
influence the neighbouring farm portions through land use or even influence price of land in
these zones.
There is an appeal of middle and upper class to peri-urban zones owing to country nostalgia,
cheap land, security, recreation, ambiance, tranquillity and anti-urbanism. Peri-urban areas
are being redefined along class lines in the South African socio-economic context. Racial
property ownership patterns have been replaced by class patterns. The study establishes
that ownership patterns within the estates under study are above the middle class income
bracket of South Africa, rather a preserve of the affluent.
The study establishes that Midvaal Municipality consents to the development of estates.
There is an underlying motivation for the local authorities to be amenable to the upmarket
estate developments. The municipality is actuated by revenue linked to upmarket residential
estate developments. Developments of these estates inject revenue growth in the area.
Upfront, developers invest in the laying of bulk infrastructure which is later taken over by the
municipality. This type of relationship, if not guarded may yield elite capture of peri-urban.
Development trends in peri-urban areas are not homogeneous. Some peri-urban zones still
reflect a state of neglect, vulnerability and are homes of the poor.
Whilst the municipality boasts being premised on agriculture strategy in its objectives as an
agri-tropolis local authority, there is little evidence to suggest vibrant agriculture and
contribution of same towards the GDP of the municipality. Instead, the growth path is
dominated by non-agricultural functions and activities. There are contradictions and tensions
of agricultural pursuit over industrial and residential developments.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for
Master of Arts in Industrial Sociology in the Graduate School for the Humanities, Social Sciences and Education in
the faculty of Arts at the University of the Witwatersrand
November 2016
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Citation
Mathabela, Pimky (2016) An investigation into land ownership patterns and land use in peri-urban areas surrounding the city of Johannesburg: a case study of Midvaal municipality, in Gauteng province, South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/21831>