Are illegal squatters ruralising the urban edge?

Abstract

This article was motivated by a claim in literature that migrants are ruralising Third World cities. It investigates the impacts of migration - the fact that all residents are from somewhere else - on the form and function of an informal settlement, using an illegal shantytown in Mamelodi, Tshwane, as a case study, by exploring the relationships between (1) the demographic profiles of migrant households, including their origins and expectations, (2) the form of a squatter settlement, and (3) how it actually functions as a setting for social and economic activities. Illegal settlement making is finally tentatively explained with a theory developed from the ruralisation hypothesis.

IS ONGEMAGTIGDE PLAKKERS BESIG OM DIE STEDELIKE BUITEWYKE TE VERLANDELIK? Die motivering vir hierdie artikel is 'n stelling in die literatuur dat immigrante Derde Wereld stede verplattelands. Dit ondersoek die impak van migrasie - die feit dat alle inwoners van erens anders af kom - op die vorm en funksie van informele nedersetting, met 'n onwettige plakkerskamp in Mamelodi, Tshwane, as 'n gevallestudie, deur 'n ondersoek van die verwantskappe tussen (1) die demografiese profiel van migrante huishoudings, insluitend hulle herkoms en verwagtinge, (2) die vorm van 'n plakkerskamp, en (3) hoe dit in werklikheid funksioneer as 'n plek vir sosiale en ekonomiese bedrywighede. Onwettige nedersetting word ten slotte tentatief verduidelik deur middle van die verplatteland hipotese.