Contemporary South African Urbanization Dynamics
Date
2010-06-16
Authors
Todes, Alison et al
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Urban Forum. Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010
Abstract
Abstract The paper provides an overview of urbanization patterns and trends in the
current era in South Africa, focusing in particular on the key dynamics and driving
forces underlying migration and urbanization. It considers overall demographic trends
with regard to migration and urbanization, and points to some of the difficulties with
data, and with the analysis of trends and patterns. The paper explores the changing
rural context and dynamics, and some of the significant processes in this context:
large-scale displacement of black people off farms, the impact of land reform, and
conditions in the former homeland areas. Circular migration continues to be an
important way in which households in rural areas survive, but some are unable to
move, and are falling out of these networks. International migration—the consequence
of both conditions in the home country and the draw of the South African economy—
is another significant process fuelling mainly urban growth. The paper demonstrates
the importance of cities in terms of economic growth and employment, and thus their
attractiveness to migrants. Continuing migration to cities is of course a challenge for
Description
Keywords
South africa and (urbanization patterns and trends)
Citation
Todes, Alison. 2010. Contemporary South African Urbanization Dynamics. Urban Forum. (2010) 21:331–348.