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Abstract
Expanding beyond narrow approaches of understanding postapartheid space, this research analyzes the social relations contributing to land use patterns and livelihood decisions as manifestations of the coproduction of space. Drawing on a detailed livelihood and land‐change analysis case study of Polokwane, South Africa, it is argued that combinations of social processes across scales contribute to the production of peri‐urban South Africa and offer an uncommon mixed‐methods approach by combining qualitative ethnographic interviews, quantitative survey data, and land‐cover change detection. The peri‐urban interface is coproduced as individuals participate in multiple livelihood activities (wage labor, businesses, social programs) and changing land use patterns (residential, urban, mixed use) through negotiations at multiple scales—from macrolevel economic policy to local labor regimes.
Many thanks to: HUGG at WVU for comments on previous versions of this article, my South African research team Johnny Moneybodu, Lesedi Kanyane, Modjadji Alexia Mothiba, and Dipitsi Augustine Mothiba, and the Applied Research Lab at IUP. I am also appreciative of three anonymous reviewers for helping me to strengthen my argument. This research was funded by the National Science Foundation DDRI Grant and an imagery grant from the Digital Globe Foundation.
Many thanks to: HUGG at WVU for comments on previous versions of this article, my South African research team Johnny Moneybodu, Lesedi Kanyane, Modjadji Alexia Mothiba, and Dipitsi Augustine Mothiba, and the Applied Research Lab at IUP. I am also appreciative of three anonymous reviewers for helping me to strengthen my argument. This research was funded by the National Science Foundation DDRI Grant and an imagery grant from the Digital Globe Foundation.
Notes
Many thanks to: HUGG at WVU for comments on previous versions of this article, my South African research team Johnny Moneybodu, Lesedi Kanyane, Modjadji Alexia Mothiba, and Dipitsi Augustine Mothiba, and the Applied Research Lab at IUP. I am also appreciative of three anonymous reviewers for helping me to strengthen my argument. This research was funded by the National Science Foundation DDRI Grant and an imagery grant from the Digital Globe Foundation.
1. Bantustans and townships were designated areas of residence for the nonwhite population of South Africa during apartheid. Bantustans were considered by the apartheid regime to be “homelands” for the black African populations, despite the fact that in most cases they represented very little of traditional or ancestral lands of the respective ethno‐linguistic groups.
2. Respondent 9911 (May 2012) noted that there was a sewage line that had been dug up and exposed for over ten months at the time of research.
3. Landsat 5 Image 1984, Path 169, Row 76/77, Acquisition Date: 21‐05‐1984
4. Landsat 5 Image 1990, Path 169, Row 76/77, Acquisition Date: 06‐05‐1990
5. Landsat 5 Image 2009, Path 169, Row 76/77, Acquisition Date: 26‐05‐2009
6. Change between 1984–1990 references aerial photography series 843, 868, and 960 for Pietersburg, the former official name (until 2005) of Polokwane. Aerial photos used for accuracy assessment in the 843 series collected 16/6/91. The 868 series collected on 30/04/1983 and 1/05/1983, and the 960 series collected 12/07/1993.
7. GeoEye 1 Imagery collected on 15/05/2009.
8. A social grant is a sum of money given to qualifying households each month as part of South Africa's social safety net. There are two types of social grants: one for old age and one for children. Child grants are awarded per child. At the time of research in 2012, the grant was 240R ($32) per month per child based upon the exchange rate (7.5 rand = $1).
9. In this site, 21 percent of households are highly diversified.
10. Nobody/Ga‐Mothiba and Ward 8 have an average of 1.0 person earning wages versus 1.9 people in FFS Park.
11. An example of the strength of unions is COSATU, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, which has 21 affiliate unions with over 1.8 million members, primarily dominated by blue‐collar and African membership (H. Marias 2012).
12. Mashinini and Disteneng are informal settlements on the outskirts of Polokwane. Mashinini was torn down in 2007, and Disteneng currently occupies the former township of New Pietersburg. Disteneng has undergone several reductions over the years to try to keep population lower and avoid overwhelming existing service provision (mainly water).
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Jennifer L. Smith
Dr. Jennifer L. Smith is Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Assistant Professor Geography and Regional Planning; [[email protected]].