Understanding the Contribution of Informal Non-State Actors in the Governance of Cities of the Global South through Informal Institutions: The Case Study of Informal Car Guarding in Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

The re-emergence of coproduction to explain service delivery initiatives by ordinary citizens has transcended different scholarship disciplines, including urban planning. The governance of cities of the global South is characterised by coproduction initiatives that are either unnoticed, overlooked or disregarded because they occur outside the formal institutions of the State. This thesis uses the case study of informal car guarding in Johannesburg, South Africa, to highlight the coproduction contribution of informal non- state actors in the governance of cities of the global South, thus arguing for urban theory and policy agenda that is informed by the realities of the global South. This thesis makes an original contribution to knowledge by arguing for the scope of non- state actor coproduction in governance to include informal non-state actors. Moreover, the idea is part of the scholarship to understand informality as a site of critical analysis thus moving beyond seeing informality as a function of people experiencing poverty. Informality in cities of the global South must be broader than livelihood debates or housing needs for the needy. Studies must be comprehensive and acknowledge the contribution of informality to how the cities function. In addition to the original contribution, this study generated empirical data about informal car guarding, which still needs to be studied further. The data was generated using in- depth interviews, which were largely unstructured, and participant observation. In total, 75 respondents informed this thesis across four study sites in Johannesburg: Maboneng Precinct, Maponya Mall, Parktown Office Park and Noord central business district. The study sites are representative of the localities typically associated with informal car guards in cities of the global South. Twenty themes were generated to answer the research sub-questions. The findings of the thesis are wide-ranging, pointing to the contribution of informal non-state actors and associated challenges. Notably, the idea outlines several policy recommendations for urban planning and urges cities of the global South to understand the contribution of informal non-state actors considering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Eleven (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG One (1) No Poverty and SDG Two (2) iii Zero Hunger). SDG 11 is about access and inclusion for informal non-state actors, and SDGs 1 and 2 are critical for the livelihoods of those in the informal secto