Racially shaped mobility patterns in South Africa date back to the colonial and apartheid eras. Apartheid as an oppressive system of social engineering through spatial segregation confined the mobility of black people. The mobility of white people was encouraged and facilitated more so in ‘white’ spaces or those spaces deemed too good for the black majority. The persistence of the apartheid space economy in the post-apartheid city implies that although mobility is no longer restricted by harsh laws, it is limited by economics and politics of the stomach. However, inter and intra-city mobility of black citizens has sharply increased with the dawn of democracy and so has the influx of migrant populations into these postapartheid urban spaces.
Against this backdrop, this essay will illuminate the processes that have influenced the production of post-apartheid Johannesburg. The theoretical framework of this paper is the mobility/fixity theory supported by Lefebvre’s ‘production of space’. The paper seeks to zero in on the two most prominent displays of mobility/fixity in the production of space as it relates to Johannesburg; these are the ‘white flight’ of the 1980s and ‘Africanisation’ of the postapartheid city.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Mobility/fixity and the production of space
3. ‘White flight’
4. ‘World Class African City’
5. Conclusion
Objectives & Topics
This essay explores the transformation of post-apartheid Johannesburg through the lens of mobility/fixity theory and Henri Lefebvre's "production of space," aiming to illuminate how historical racial segregation and contemporary socio-economic shifts have shaped the city's urban structure.
- Theoretical application of mobility/fixity and the production of space
- Analysis of the 'white flight' phenomenon during the 1980s
- Examination of the 'Africanisation' of the post-apartheid inner city
- Impact of migration and xenophobia on urban spatial dynamics
- The relationship between mobility as a resource and power structures
Excerpt from the Book
‘White flight’
In light of the understanding of mobility as a resource and as empowerment, one can examine the spatial transformation that was sparked by ‘white flight’ in Johannesburg that began in the late 1970s. It has been argued that mobilities research seeks to understand patterns of migration and the forces behind this movement of people. Apartheid as a governance system was used to restrict the mobility of black people within and among urban spaces while the mobility of white urban citizens was encouraged in these spaces. Although it can also be argued that the mobility of white people was limited to those spaces the state deemed safe for their occupation and their conceived sense of space prevented them from engaging with ‘unsafe’, ‘black’ spaces. Nonetheless, this oppressive governance system and the ability of the state to enforce those laws that restricted the mobility of black people and to some extent of the white populace was beginning to crumble in the late 1970s. This saw the in-migration of blacks into the inner city and their illegal occupation of communities like Hillbrow. This gradual encroachment of white Johannesburg reached critical mass in the early 1980s and this saw the rapid out-migration of whites from the city centre toward the north to create white ‘safe’ spaces that would economically exclude the ‘intrusive’ black majority (Braid, 1996).
The resultant Johannesburg space economy could be described as being occupied by "two separate societies”; with a white, affluent society located primarily in the suburbs and a black society concentrated within the inner city and in large poverty enclaves in the peri-urban. Unlike in other countries whose cities have undergone ‘white flight’ where only the white middle-upper-class vacated the inner city; Johannesburg saw an exodus of all white bodies regardless of economic class because in the South African city, racial oppression was cemented by economic oppression. As such, the entire white populace in Johannesburg’s inner city migrated to the northern suburbs and commercial and business interest followed as this left the inner-city with a decreased purchasing power.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the historical context of racially shaped mobility in South Africa and outlines the paper's focus on the mobility/fixity theory to explain the evolution of post-apartheid Johannesburg.
2. Mobility/fixity and the production of space: This section provides the theoretical framework, defining space through Lefebvre's perceived, conceived, and lived dimensions and examining how global mobility systems influence urban governance and infrastructure.
3. ‘White flight’: This chapter examines the spatial transformation of Johannesburg starting in the late 1970s, analyzing how racial and economic factors drove the white population to relocate from the inner city to northern suburbs.
4. ‘World Class African City’: This chapter explores the 'Africanisation' of Johannesburg, discussing demographic shifts, the influx of migrants, and the institutional and social challenges—including xenophobia—that persist in the post-apartheid landscape.
5. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the relationship between mobility, space, and power, concluding that while Johannesburg has become more inclusive in terms of population, it remains as exclusionary as its colonial predecessor in its urban organization.
Keywords
Johannesburg, Mobility, Fixity, Apartheid, White flight, Africanisation, Spatial production, Migration, Xenophobia, Urban governance, Post-apartheid, Power dynamics, Social engineering, Urban space, Inequality
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines how historical and contemporary mobility patterns, influenced by apartheid and socio-economic factors, have shaped the urban geography of Johannesburg.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the mobility/fixity paradigm, the historical 'white flight' phenomenon, the process of 'Africanisation' in urban centers, and the impact of migration and xenophobia on city life.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to use mobility theory to understand the processes that have influenced the production of the post-apartheid city of Johannesburg.
Which scientific framework is utilized?
The paper employs the mobility/fixity theory, supported by Henri Lefebvre's "production of space" theory.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the conceptual definitions of mobility, the historical exodus of white residents, and the current challenges faced by migrant populations in the inner city.
Which keywords best describe this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Johannesburg, mobility, apartheid, white flight, Africanisation, spatial production, and urban governance.
How does the paper differentiate between white flight in Johannesburg and other global cities?
Unlike other cities where only the middle or upper class vacated the inner city, Johannesburg experienced an exodus of the entire white population across all economic classes due to the deep integration of racial and economic oppression.
What role does xenophobia play in the author's analysis of contemporary Johannesburg?
The author argues that xenophobia serves as an institutional and social barrier that restricts the mobility of migrants and justifies their marginalization through exclusionary policies and naming conventions.
- Quote paper
- Inolofatseng Lekaba (Author), 2016, Mobility Paradigm in Johannesburg, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/511827
