South Africa emerged from a cataclysm two decades ago to experience a stable democratic transition during which the local government system was transformed. The creation of large metropolitan municipalities was intended to accelerate socioeconomic development and urban restructuring in order to overcome the legacy of segregation and exclusion. This paper assesses their achievements, ten years on, using the concept of resilience as the analytical frame. Resilience helps to examine cities as interconnected systems open to external influences but with some capacity for self-organisation and learning. It is useful for exploring the coexistence of urban continuity and change. Evidence shows that the responses of South Africa city authorities to globalisation, urbanisation, and democracy have been circumscribed. Continuity and incremental change have been more evident than transformation and development. Hesitant progress exposes cities to the risk of greater social instability. Insights from resilience theory support the idea that enhanced municipal capabilities could facilitate a more enduring outcome.
AronJKahnBKingdonG, (Eds), 2009South African Economic Policy Under Democracy (Oxford University Press, Oxford)
2.
Atkins, 2012Future Proofing CitiesAtkins with Department for International Development and University College London, London
3.
AtkinsonD, 2007, “Taking to the streets: Has developmental local government failed in South Africa?”, in State of the Nation: South Africa 2007 Eds BuhlunguSDanielJSouthallRLutchmanJ, (HSRC Press, Cape Town) pp 169–182
4.
BakerJ L, 2012Climate Change, Disaster Risk, and the Urban Poor: Cities Building Resilience for a Changing World (World Bank, Washington, DC)
5.
BoraineACrankshawOEngelbrachtCGotzGMbangaSNarsooMParnellS, 2006, “The state of South African cities a decade after democracy”Urban Studies43259–284
6.
BrandFJaxK, 2007, “Focusing the meaning(s) of resilience”Ecology and Society12(1)
7.
CameronR, 1999The Democratisation of South African Local Government: A Tale of Three Cities (van Schaik, Pretoria)
8.
CarpenterSWalkerBAnderiesJAbelN, 2001, “From metaphor to measurement: Resilience of what to what?”Ecosystems4765–781
9.
ChristophersonSMichieJTylerP, 2010, “Regional resilience: Theoretical and empirical perspectives”Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society3(1) 3–10
10.
DavoudiS, 2012, “Resilience: A bridging concept or a dead end?”Planning Theory and Practice13299–307
11.
DPLG, 1998Local Government White PaperDepartment of Provincial and Local Government, Pretoria
12.
de WeijerF, 2013, “Resilience: A Trojan horse for a new way of thinking?”, DP 139, European Centre for Development Policy Management, Maastricht, http://www.ecdpm.org/dp139
13.
du ToitCvan TonderJ, 2009, “South Africa's economic performance since 1994: Can we do better?”, in Zumanomics: Which Way to Shared Prosperity in South Africa? Ed. ParsonsR, (Jacana, Auckland Park) pp 15–39
14.
EDD, 2010New Growth PathEconomic Development Department, Pretoria
15.
EvansP, 2011, “Resilience, ecology and adaptation in the experimental city”Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, New Series36223–237
16.
FineB, 2010, “Can South Africa be a developmental state?”, in Constructing a Democratic Developmental State in South Africa Ed. EdighejiO, (HSRC Press, Cape Town)
17.
FineB, 2012, “Assessing South Africa's New Growth Path: Framework for change?”Review of African Political Economy39551–568
18.
FolkeC, 2006, “Resilience: The emergence of a perspective for social–ecological systems analyses”Global Environmental Change16253–267
19.
FolkeCCarpenterSWalkerBSchefferMChapinTRockströmJ, 2010, “Resilience thinking: Integrating resilience, adaptability and transformability”Ecology and Society15(4) 20:1–20:9
20.
GroenewaldY, 2010, “Waste and want in Ekurhuleni”Mail and Guardian 19 November, page 4
HollingC S, 1973, “Resilience and stability of ecological systems”Annual Review of Ecological Systems41–23
23.
HollingC S, 2001, “Understanding the complexity of economic, ecological, and social systems”Ecosystems4390–405
24.
HSRC, 1998–2008National Opinion Survey and South African Social Attitudes SurveyHuman Sciences Research Council, Pretoria
25.
HuchzermeyerM, 201) Cities with ‘Slums’: From Informal Settlement Eradication to a Right to the City in Africa (UCT Press, Cape Town)
26.
MakgetlaN, 2010, “The international economic crisis and employment in South Africa”, in New South African Review 1 Eds DanielJNaidooPPillayDSouthallR, (Wits University Press, Johannesburg) pp 65–86
27.
MakgetlaN, 2011, “Essence of the inherited structure”, in The Controversy about Economic Growth Ed. TurokB, (Jacana, Auckland Park) pp 9–22
28.
MaraisH, 2011South Africa Pushed to the Limit: The Political Economy of Change (Zed Books, London)
29.
MartinR, 2012, “Regional economic resilience, hysteresis and recessionary shocks”Journal of Economic Geography121–32
30.
MohamedS, 2010, “The state of the South African economy”, in New South African Review 1 Eds DanielJNaidooPPillayDSouthallR, (Wits University Press, Johannesburg) pp 39–64
31.
MullerM, 2010, “Setting apartheid in concrete: Lessons from the Moloto Road”The Thinker1218–20
NPC, National Planning Commission, Pretoria2011aDiagnostics Overview
34.
NPC, National Planning Commission, Pretoria2011bEconomy Diagnostic
35.
NPC, National Planning Commission, Pretoria2012National Development Plan
36.
NewmanPBeatleyTBoyerH, 2009Resilient Cities: Responding to Peak Oil and Climate Change (Island Press, Washington, DC)
37.
OECD, 2010Economic Surveys: South Africa (OECD, Paris)
38.
OECD, 2011Territorial Review: The Gauteng City-Region (OECD, Paris)
39.
ParnellSPieterseESwillingMWooldridgeD, (Eds), 2002Democratising Local Government: The South African Experiment (UCT Press, Cape Town)
40.
ParsonsR, (Ed.), 2009Zumanomics: Which Way to Shared Prosperity in South Africa? (Auckland Park, Jacana)
41.
PatelYPowellD, 2008, “Intergovernmental delivery in municipal areas: Reflections on current practice”, in Consolidating Developmental Local Government: Lessons from the South African Experience Eds van DonkMSwillingMPieterseEParnellS, (UCT Press, Cape Town) pp 339–356
42.
PellingM, 2003The Vulnerability of Cities: Natural Disasters and Social Resilience (Earthscan, London)
43.
PellingM, 2011Adaptation to Climate Change: From Resilience to Transformation (Routledge, London)
44.
PendallRFosterKCowellM, 2010, “Resilience and regions: Building understanding of the metaphor”Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society3(1) 71–84
45.
PikeADawleySTomaneyJ, 2010, “Resilience, adaptation and adaptability”Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society3(1) 59–70
46.
Presidency, Pretoria2008aTowards a Fifteen Year Review: Synthesis Report
Presidency, Pretoria2009National Strategic Planning: Green Paper
49.
RobertsB, 2008, “Between trust and scepticism: Public confidence in institutions”HSRC Review6(1) 10–11
50.
RobertsBHemsonD, 2008, “Batho Pele principles, perceived municipal performance and political behaviour in South Africa”, in Critical Dialogue—Public Participation in Review4(1) 53–62
51.
RotbergR, 2012Transformative Political Leadership (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL)
52.
SACN, 20112011 State of SA Cities ReportSouth African Cities Network, Johannesburg
53.
SAIRR, 20092008/09 South Africa SurveySouth African Institute of Race Relations, Johannesburg
54.
SAPRU, 2009A Report on the Current Service Delivery Protests in SASouth African Parliament Research Unit, Cape Town
55.
SchmidtD, 2008, “From spheres to tiers: Conceptions of local government in South Africa in the period 1994–2006”, in Consolidating Developmental Local Government Ed. van DonkMSwillingMPieterseEParnellS, (UCT Press, Cape Town) pp 109–130
56.
SimmieJMartinR, 2010, “The economic resilience of regions: Towards an evolutionary approach”Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society327–44
Statistics SA, 2010aGHS Series Volume II: Housing 2002–2009 report 03-18-01
61.
Statistics SA, 2010bGeneral Household Survey
62.
Statistics SA, 2011Quarterly Labour Force Survey
63.
SwanstromTChappleKImmergluckD, 2009Regional Resilience in the Face of Foreclosures: Evidence from Six Metropolitan Areas working paper, Building Resilient Regions, http://escholarship.org/uc/item/23s3q06x
64.
Treasury, National Treasury, Pretoria2011aConfronting Youth Unemployment: Policy Options for South Africa
65.
Treasury, National Treasury, Pretoria2011bLocal Government Budgets and Expenditure Review 2006/7–2012/13
66.
Treasury, National Treasury, Pretoria2011cMedium Term Budget Policy Statement
TurokI, 2009, “The distinctive city: Pitfalls in the pursuit of differential advantage”Environment and Planning A4113–30
69.
UNISDR, 2012Making Cities Resilient Report 2012United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction New York
70.
ValeLCampanellaT, 2005The Resilient City: How Modern Cities Recover from Disaster (Oxford University Press, New York)
71.
van DonkMSwillingMPieterseEParnellS, (Eds), 2008Consolidating Developmental Local Government: Lessons from the South African Experience (UCT Press, Cape Town)
72.
van RyneveldP, 2010, “Assessment of public transport in SA cities”, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, New York
73.
WalkerBHollingCCarpenterSKinzigA, 2004, “Resilience, adaptability and transformability in social–ecological systems”Ecology and Society9(2) 5
74.
WallaceDWallaceR, 2008, “Urban systems during disasters: Factors for resilience”Ecology and Society13(1) 18
75.
WilkinsonP, 2008, “Reframing urban passenger transport as a strategic priority for developmental local government”, in Consolidating Developmental Local Government Eds van DonkMSwillingMPieterseEParnellS, (UCT Press, Cape Town) pp 203–221
