Prospects for global city development in central Gauteng.

Abstract

This discourse investigates nature and the needs of global city development. It does this, through both theoretical and empirical research into this phenomenon, peculiar to the late twentieth century. The first part of the work explores the theoretical underpinnings of 'global city thesis'. and its host dominant critique, the 'dual city thesis'. Following this, an empirical assessment of the concept's relevance to Southern Africa's development is performed. For this purpose, the most dominant locality in the region, Central Gauteng, is analysed in terms of its potential for, and the problems involved with global city development in a middle-income country. It is found that global city development here would be desirable for both Central Gauteng and the greater SADC. By establishing Central Gauteng as a global city, the region would be empowered to take greater control over its economic destiny. The path this development would, by necessity take, is the promotion of the locality as the 'Gateway to Africa'. Based on this orientation several development planning proposals are presented.