Exploring the fragments of spatial justice in an attempt to promote spatially just development in South African urban regions

Abstract

For the past two decades in South Africa, there have been various efforts aimed at restructuring the distorted and fragmented spatial form, re-integrating the fragmented spaces and communities and creating sustainable development in general. These aspiring goals were not realised as expected, mainly due to an (un)just government and planning system. A major milestone was however achieved in 2013, after more than a decade’s efforts and struggles to develop the first real planning act for South Africa, namely the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, 2013 (SPLUMA). It is enlightening to note that one of the five main planning principles on which the act is based, emphasises the notion of “spatial justice” which constitutes a policy of inclusion with regard to previously disadvantaged people as well as certain planning and development areas. The National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 also proposed normative principles for spatial development in South Africa of which spatial justice is one of these principles. The NDP 2030 requires an explicit indication of the ways in which to achieve the requirements of spatial justice. The term “spatial justice” had been missing from literature for more than 30 years, only to resurface in 2010 as a concept that was under-theorised at best. The question to be asked is “What is spatial justice and how can it change any landscape, most importantly the South African apartheid landscape?” The research at hand will investigate the concept of spatial justice by carrying out a metasynthesis of theories, discourses and concepts related to space, justice and the right to the city. The result of the meta-synthesis will assist in developing a working definition of spatial justice and the requirements needed to achieve it namely equity, democracy, diversity as well as just distribution based on need or merit. The study goes further in mapping and assessing spatial justice in certain key areas that were identified as critical nodes in an attempt to achieve spatial justice in a city using the City of Tshwane as a reference city. This revealed possible gaps and future opportunities in support of spatial justice e.g. how to integrate communities and where to provide additional public transport. Mapping and assessing spatial justice allow municipalities to plan better because of the fact that assessment provides important information for future planning and development, identification of priority projects and infrastructure as well as ultimately enhancing the budgeting process in the Integrated Development Plan.