Fostering Functional Public Open Space within Low-income, Post-Apartheid Environments

Abstract

Public open space is fundamental to the lives of residents within low-income post-apartheid settlements. With the prioritisation of the provision of housing post-apartheid, limited consideration has been given to the public realm and the functioning of public open space. It is essential that we regard the public realm as an integral component to the lives of the people who inhabit these environments. Because of the living conditions, large portions of people's lives are conducted outside of this prioritised private realm. It is evident that public spaces within these environments become neglected due to a lack of ownership and management. The intention of this paper is to find principles of enhancing public life through encouraging shared open spaces. Delft South, a post-apartheid suburb on the periphery of Cape Town, is a representation of how the legacy of apartheid persists within the landscape. Using the case of Delft South, this paper highlights the attitude towards the provision and upkeep of public open space by the state whilst foregrounding its importance to the lives and livelihoods of residents. Qualitative research analysis is conducted within the area to elicit how the current open space network is used and to grasp the consequences of a lack of public open space provision. The use of the public open space network by school children plays a significant role in the public life of the area. Using this analysis and further theoretical unpacking, this paper seeks to elicit principles of fostering functional open space within post-apartheid South Africa.