Toward the “New South Africa”

Abstract

The inherent contradictions of apartheid—political separation in the face of economic interdependence—have long been clear to geographers. The “reformist” response of the Botha government in the 1980s proved inadequate, leaving F. W. de Klerk to grasp the nettle of fundamental change. His actions in 1990 and 1991 set in motion an irreversible process of political change, but the apartheid heritage poses many problems and constraints for ”the new South Africa.” Five issues of prime concern to geographers are examined: the future of the Bantustans, including their “capital cities” and associated bureaucracies; questions of land redistribution, tenure systems, production levels, and support systems; spatial economic policies including those concerning decentralization and urbanization; land and housing in post-apartheid cities; and South Africa's future political and economic relations with her regional neighbors.

Key Words:

• apartheid
• Bantustans
• cities
• land
• reform
• SADCC
• segregation
• South Africa
• spatial policies