Abstract:
For the past two decades in South Africa, there have been various efforts aimed at
restructuring the distorted and fragmented spatial form, re-integrating the fragmented spaces
and communities and creating sustainable development in general. These aspiring goals
were not realised as expected, mainly due to an (un)just government and planning system. A
major milestone was however achieved in 2013, after more than a decade’s efforts and
struggles to develop the first real planning act for South Africa, namely the Spatial Planning
and Land Use Management Act, 2013 (SPLUMA). It is enlightening to note that one of the
five main planning principles on which the act is based, emphasises the notion of “spatial
justice” which constitutes a policy of inclusion with regard to previously disadvantaged people
as well as certain planning and development areas. The National Development Plan (NDP)
2030 also proposed normative principles for spatial development in South Africa of which
spatial justice is one of these principles. The NDP 2030 requires an explicit indication of the
ways in which to achieve the requirements of spatial justice. The term “spatial justice” had
been missing from literature for more than 30 years, only to resurface in 2010 as a concept
that was under-theorised at best. The question to be asked is “What is spatial justice and
how can it change any landscape, most importantly the South African apartheid landscape?”
The research at hand will investigate the concept of spatial justice by carrying out a metasynthesis
of theories, discourses and concepts related to space, justice and the right to the
city. The result of the meta-synthesis will assist in developing a working definition of spatial
justice and the requirements needed to achieve it namely equity, democracy, diversity as
well as just distribution based on need or merit. The study goes further in mapping and
assessing spatial justice in certain key areas that were identified as critical nodes in an
attempt to achieve spatial justice in a city using the City of Tshwane as a reference city. This
revealed possible gaps and future opportunities in support of spatial justice e.g. how to
integrate communities and where to provide additional public transport. Mapping and
assessing spatial justice allow municipalities to plan better because of the fact that
assessment provides important information for future planning and development,
identification of priority projects and infrastructure as well as ultimately enhancing the
budgeting process in the Integrated Development Plan.
