Uhit 7 - Urban Settlement Issues Flashcards
Urbanisation
Process where the ever-increasing percentage of the total population lives in urban rather than rural settlements.
Why is there an increase in urbanisation?
Due to the internal migration from within South Africa and the natural growth of urban populations.
South African urbanisation rates have also increased due to migrants from other African countries.
Urban issues related to rapid urbanisation
Lack of planning Housing shortages Overcrowding Traffic congestion Problems of service provision
Lack of planning
Rapid urbanisation results in many unplanned settlements.
Eg. Informal settlements or building extensions.
New urban developments need to be properly planned and managed.
Housing shortages
The growing size of urban populations leads to a shortage of houses, overcrowding and inadequate services.
Overcrowding
Cities have high population densities, slums develop and services such as school and hospitals are under pressure. Q
Traffic congestion
Rapid urbanisation has resulted in traffic jams, delays and shortage of parking.
Problems of service provision
Growing cities need services like water, electricity, sewerage and refuse removal.
Services providers struggle to meet the growing demand.
What is an informal settlement ?
An unplanned residential settlement where people have occupied land illegally and built shacks there.
Backyard shacks
Informal dwellings built alongside formal houses.
Informal settlement issues
- shacks are made of corrugated iron, very hot in sumner and cold in winter.
- settlements are in low lying areas, prone to flooding.
- unhealthy living conditions
- poverty and unemployment
- lack if services, tap and toilets are often outside and far from houses.
- fires occur frequently, caused by candles and paraffin stoves. They spread rapidly and fire engines cannot gain access as spaces are too small between shacks.
New towns
Settlement planned from the start and built on new sites and include all aspects of development before construction begins.
- suburbs, roads, land use zones are planned in advance.
- all socio economic features are integrated (schools, roads)
- transport systems are planned and functional.
- all functions are regulated by law
- new towns are built in poor areas to boost economy.
What do new towns include?
Garden cities and greenbelt towns.
What are new towns intended for?
- to limit the growth problems of large cities.
- stimulate economic growth.
- provide housing for growing urban populations.
- help decentralize urban populations.
- lessen overcrowding.
- decrease pressure on limited city resources.
Self-help cities
Communities initiate a self help approach when local authorities or central governments fail to improve the quality of life of inhabitants.
- habitat for humanity, helps inhabitants become skilled in the building trade.
