The Legacy of Apartheid : Spatial Injustices in South Africa

Sammanfattning: The rapid pace of urbanization means that cities will play a crucial role in sustainable development all over the world. Housing shortages, increasing pressures on land resources and a deteriorating environment are some of the challenges that need to be dealt with for cities to develop sustainably. South Africa and Cape Town is facing great challenges with persistent injustices and an acute housing crisis. The aim of this study has been to investigate the effects the unjust geographical legacy of apartheid has on people in Cape Town and South Africa today, how it is experienced and how this is managed on a provincial level in the Western Cape, using the Fish Hoek Valley as a case study. This study has been influenced by ethnography with fieldwork such as observations and conversations combined with media articles and an official provincial document, with all data being analysed through a qualitative content analysis. The results show that the Western Cape Provincial Government is aware of the unsustainable development in the region, and it has great visions to change this. The reality in 'the Valley' show that the poor still experiences injustices related to the colour of their skin and where they live. People are expressing their frustration over broken promises and the relationship to the local government is weak. The environment is not a priority and efforts for change is insufficient. The neoliberal path the country has taken appears to be the cause behind the difficulties to address the injustices. The conclusion is that the effects of neoliberalism should be questioned on a political level for real change to happen.