A perspective for transforming central areas of South African cities into great places

ABSTRACT

The city centres of South African cities are in the process of degeneration and need transformation. The study assessed the current scenario of the various physical, spatial, and socio-economic attributes of central areas of three South African cities and explored how they can be transformed into great places. The challenges related to physical and visual elements, liveability, social and cultural elements, productivity and sustainability, and human experience and richness were identified. Three important strategies that include community participation is likely to change perceptions and enhance belongingness and ownership, the integration of ICT and the revitalisation of public artefacts and places including cultural and tourist elements and enhancement of accessibility are found to be essential for the revitalisation of the city centres, enhancement of economic activities and vibrancy. Therefore, it is theorised that a combination of these strategies could transform the degenerating city centres into great places.

KEYWORDS:

• Central areas
• cities
• community
• design
• image
• place theory
• technology

Policy highlights

• There is a need to move beyond the conventional spatial intervention to transform the city centres into great places in developing countries such as South Africa.

• Social innovation and human experience and enrichment are critical for the transformation of the central areas.

• Stakeholder engagement and people’s participation and involvement in decision-making and implementation of development and redevelopment programmes would enable co-design and co-development and enhance belongingness and ownership.

• Integration of ICT is likely to play a critical role in enhancing connectivity, image building and making the place safer.

• The combined effect of the spatial intervention, integration of ICT and social innovation is likely to transform the city centres into great places.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical approval

Reference number: FEIT 09/17, Faculty Research and Innovation Committee (FRIC), Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT), (Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation, South Africa [106023, 15–12–2016)].

Notes on contributors

Dillip Kumar Das

Dillip Kumar Das (Prof.) has a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning with a Civil Engineering and city planning background. Currently, he is engaged in teaching, research, and community engagement activities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. His research and consulting interests under sustainable urban and regional development include systems analysis, system dynamics modelling, infrastructure planning and management, smart cities, and transportation planning. He has co-authored two books as the lead author and published several peer-reviewed research articles.