Legislative Framework Influencing Public Space Development

Abstract

People-Centred Public Spaces are attentive to the needs of communities, democratic, and responsive to the spatial environment of cities. Public space is a key component for cities in sustaining a viable people-centred public realm. This article provides an insight into the legislative framework that influenced the expression of public space on the spatial footprint of South African cities. Whilst Legislation does provide an enabling framework for spatial development including that of public spaces, in the South African Context there are contrasting examples of spatial development due to the impact of Apartheid-Related legislation. This article delves further into the impact of legislation that enforced physical separation of race groups on the development of people-centred public space as well the transition to developmental Local Government.