"Marabi culture" a catalyst in facilitating identity

Abstract

South African cities reflect Apartheid policies of spatial segregation. They exhibit cases of sprawl, fragmentation and isolation, leading to partial thresholds and inefficiencies in social equity. The city of Tshwane is no exception. It has populations of marginalized and impoverished groups residing in remote settlements far from their places of employment. The 1994 adoption of a new constitution in South Africa opened new avenues to address and redress these spatial characteristics of apartheid planning, to create better urban environments. This dissertation is a reaction to the 1994 constitution, exploring ideas of spatial integration and identity in the previously marginalized community of Marabastad in Tshwane. At present, Marabastad has a harsh atmosphere of crime, unemployment, homelessness and the lack of a sense of community. The prevalent issues in this community are the needs for social infrastructure and identity: an identity that reflects and accommodates the different cultural groups, and promotes reintegration of spaces within Marabastad and the Pretoria C.B.D. A social platform for expression is a means to address the lack of social infrastructure. This platform would encourage both spontaneous and organized events to activate the urban surface of Marabastad