The nature extent and locational dynamics of Tygervalley in the Cape Town economic inequality context

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Inequality is a persistent problem in post-apartheid South Africa. This study responds to the inequity in South Africa's current pattern of spatial development and spatial trajectory, specifically the lack of spatial economic transformation in its cities. It aims to provide a deeper spatial understanding of economic inequality in Cape Town, specifically the continued lack of investment and economic growth in poor city areas compared to continued investment and growth in wealthy areas. The study provides insight into economic activity in Tygervalley, a wealthy business precinct in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, through a detailed analysis of the location of private investment and business.Businesses in Tygervalley were identified and their features and locational decisions determined and analysed. Conditions conducive to business growth in the northern suburbs, the level and types of business activity the area, as well as barriers to business growth in the south-east of Cape Town were determined based on these findings. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from businesses in Tygervalley and analysed using multivariate and thematic approaches respectively. The study had an embedded mixed methods design with positivistic, phenomenological and pragmatic philosophical underpinnings.Findings could inform policies to address the city's uneven growth pattern and encourage job creation in south-eastern Cape Town. The results show that wealthy areas such as Tygervalley continue to reflect the characteristics that promote economic growth while poor areas such as south-eastern Cape Town do not. Since initial assessments 15 years ago, little has changed in altering barriers to development in poor areas of the city. Policies and initiatives operating during this period have failed to create a spatially more equitable city by creating conditions conducive to business growth in poor areas. Cape Town is continuing on a general inequitable economic trajectory with economic growth proliferating and being reinforced in northern wealthy areas with comparatively little growth in poor areas such as the south-east. This trend does not support urban integration to the economic benefit of poorer areas in Cape Town. There is still a great need for improved proactive (particularly local) governance directing investment to poor areas through public-private-civil partnership mechanisms.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University