Apartheid urban segregation

Date and country of first publication

1989
South Africa

Definition

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Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was implemented by the National Party government in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. It aimed to maintain white minority rule and perpetuate the dominance of Afrikaner culture and political power.

Urban segregation under apartheid was a key component of the discriminatory policies. The Group Areas Act of 1950 enforced strict residential segregation along racial lines, dividing cities and towns into racially designated areas. These areas were tailored to separate different racial groups and control their movement and access to resources.

Black Africans, who constituted the majority of the population, were forcibly removed from urban areas and relocated to designated townships located on the outskirts of cities. These townships were characterized by inferior infrastructure, overcrowding, and limited access to basic services.

Meanwhile, white South Africans enjoyed privileged access to well-developed urban areas with better infrastructure, quality housing, and superior services. The government created suburbs exclusively for white residents, often in close proximity to the wealthiest neighborhoods and economic hubs.

Colored and Indian communities also faced segregation, but the degree of separation varied across different areas. They were assigned specific neighborhoods, often characterized by overcrowding and limited access to basic services.

Urban segregation under apartheid not only enforced racial divisions but also perpetuated economic and social disparities. The policy restricted upward mobility for non-white South Africans, denied them access to quality education and employment opportunities, and limited their ability to accumulate wealth and assets.

The policy of urban segregation was highly controversial and faced significant resistance from activists and the international community. Ultimately, apartheid was dismantled in the early 1990s, leading to the end of institutionalized segregation and the beginning of a new era in South African history.

Further reading

Christopher A.J. (1989) "Apartheid within apartheid: An assessment of official intra black segregation on the witwatersrand, south africa", Professional Geographer, 41(3), pp. 328-336. . DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1111/j.0033-0124.1989.00328.x 10.1111/j.0033-0124.1989.00328.x]

Maharaj B. (1997) "Apartheid, urban segregation, and the local state: Durban and the group areas act in south africa", Urban Geography, 18(2), pp. 135-154. . DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.2747/0272-3638.18.2.135 10.2747/0272-3638.18.2.135]

O’donoghue D.P. (2016) "In the Shadow of a Giant: Core peripheral Contrasts in South East England", Urban Transformations: Centres, Peripheries and Systems, 95-108. Taylor and Francis. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.4324/9781315548685-16 10.4324/9781315548685-16]

Mini S. (2016) "Urban Transformation for Sustainability and Social Justice in Urban Peripheries: New Forms of Urban Segregation in Post apartheid Cities", Urban Transformations: Centres, Peripheries and Systems, 161-170. Taylor and Francis. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.4324/9781315548685-22 10.4324/9781315548685-22]