Claiming space in post-apartheid urban planning in South Africa

This research investigates the claim for space to practice initiation in the African townships of Cape town, South Africa. These spaces were not initially provided for when African townships were developed and the status quo persists during post-apartheid urban planning. The research draws on the tools of post-modernist planning theory to investigate and analyze the claim for space. Thus the study commences with a critical analysis of modem and apartheid urban planning theories and practices with the aid of post-modern theory concepts in general, and post-modem urban planning theory concepts in particular. This reveals an oppressive and biased system in favor of certain groups in society and a privileging of a rational discourse in planning deliberation processes. Post-apartheid urban planning is also subjected to a similar critical analysis for relying on the same shaky epistemological foundations of modem urban planning theory. Modern urban planning methods and practices are thus rejected as inappropriate for a new context that is characterized by cultural diversity and consequently, different ways of knowing and being. Instead, a post-modern approach that is more accommodating and sensitive to the demands of a multi-cultural context is deemed more appropriate. A case study method was selected partly to provide evidence for persisting marginalization under modern urban planning, during the post-apartheid, and partly to enrich a theoretical understanding derived from the phenomenon under investigation. A semi-structured interview approach was adopted in order to facilitate a more deliberative and dialogical interaction with respondents. The selection of interviewees was based on membership of the relevant groups i.e. affected communities, relevant public officials, academics and consultants, which were identified during early stages of research. The findings reveal: an ambivalent profession in terms of planning for multi- culturalism/cultural diversity; the limited capacity of a haltingly modernist state to effect necessary changes befitting a culturally diverse post-apartheid society; and the realities and limits of power that have prevented idealism and vision of post-apartheid urban planning, instead redirecting them to less attractive ends