(UNIVERSITY OF WITWATERSRAND FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, 2016) Mphatsoe, Pulane
The ambiguous nature of cities has long been discussed by many scholars. Cities are
both spaces of opportunity and abject poverty; connectivity to global circuits of goods,
people and ideas, yet concurrently contain spaces of marginalisation (Kihato, 2009).
The increase in backyard dwellings over the years has highlighted the high demand,
and low supply for low-income housing in Johannesburg where many South Africans
and international migrants relocate to for greater opportunities. This research report
aims to document the relationship between backyard densification and the strategies of
integration of migrants into their new host society. These experiences will be
documented on the basis of social networks and interaction between the migrants and
the locals. The urban form associated with backyard living provides a proximity which fosters
intentioned and unintended interaction between neighbours. Backyard densification
facilitates access and sustainability of social networks used by migrant women. These
social networks play a significant role in the post migratory experiences of migrant
women living in backyard dwellings in that they offer various types of support such as
trading land, financial and emotional support and childcare just name a few. This
research forms part of a greater study on resilient densification in Johannesburg, and
though its scope is limited, I hope it will stir up further research pertaining to migration,
gender and social networks.