GGH3704
Assignment 2
Unique No: 647859
Semester 2 2025
Due 17 September 2025
, GGH3704
Assignment 2: 647859
Semester 2 2025
Due Date: 17/09/2025
Development of Urban Space
Introduction
South Africa’s urban landscapes continue to wrestle with the enduring legacies of
apartheid. De Beer’s (2025) observation that, nearly three decades after its formal
abolition, cities remain deeply segregated, underscores persistent debates on spatial
justice and urban inequality. These debates remain particularly salient in South Africa,
where decades of racially discriminatory policies entrenched socio-spatial divisions that
persist despite democratic reform.
As a geospatial analyst for the South African Local Government Association (SALGA),
this essay evaluates Johannesburg—the country’s largest city and economic hub—as a
case study for testing De Beer’s claim. Drawing on scholarly literature, geospatial data,
and recent policy insights, the analysis demonstrates that segregation remains
entrenched in Johannesburg, most visibly in the racial and socio-economic composition
of residential areas.
The essay argues that although limited desegregation has occurred in affluent suburbs,
the broader urban form remains characterized by entrenched inequalities, shaped by
historical legacies, structural socio-economic divides, and shortcomings in governance
and planning. These forces collectively inhibit equitable urban transformation.
Assessment of De Beer’s Statement in Johannesburg
De Beer’s statement is strongly reflected in Johannesburg, where apartheid-era spatial
legacies continue to manifest as persistent racial and socio-economic segregation,
despite successive government interventions since 1994. Evidence from the Gauteng
Assignment 2
Unique No: 647859
Semester 2 2025
Due 17 September 2025
, GGH3704
Assignment 2: 647859
Semester 2 2025
Due Date: 17/09/2025
Development of Urban Space
Introduction
South Africa’s urban landscapes continue to wrestle with the enduring legacies of
apartheid. De Beer’s (2025) observation that, nearly three decades after its formal
abolition, cities remain deeply segregated, underscores persistent debates on spatial
justice and urban inequality. These debates remain particularly salient in South Africa,
where decades of racially discriminatory policies entrenched socio-spatial divisions that
persist despite democratic reform.
As a geospatial analyst for the South African Local Government Association (SALGA),
this essay evaluates Johannesburg—the country’s largest city and economic hub—as a
case study for testing De Beer’s claim. Drawing on scholarly literature, geospatial data,
and recent policy insights, the analysis demonstrates that segregation remains
entrenched in Johannesburg, most visibly in the racial and socio-economic composition
of residential areas.
The essay argues that although limited desegregation has occurred in affluent suburbs,
the broader urban form remains characterized by entrenched inequalities, shaped by
historical legacies, structural socio-economic divides, and shortcomings in governance
and planning. These forces collectively inhibit equitable urban transformation.
Assessment of De Beer’s Statement in Johannesburg
De Beer’s statement is strongly reflected in Johannesburg, where apartheid-era spatial
legacies continue to manifest as persistent racial and socio-economic segregation,
despite successive government interventions since 1994. Evidence from the Gauteng
