Socio-Economic Dynamics Inhibiting Inclusive Urban Economic Development: Implications for Sustainable Urban Development in South African Cities

  1. Robert Mutemi Kajiita
  2. Simon Murote Kang’ethe

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Abstract

Globally, the need for sustainable urban development has never been more urgent than it is now. This is because estimates indicate that more than half of the global population will be living in urban areas by 2050, with South Africa estimated at 80%. This paper focuses on socio-economic nuances that impede sustainable urban development, as well as the strategies that can accelerate sustainable and inclusive urban development in South Africa. Through a literature-review methodology, the analysis identified the following issues as impediments to sustainable urban development in South Africa: informality, lack of consultations with urban citizens, unresolved apartheid legacies, crime and insecurity, and migration intricacies in South Africa. The paper also establishes prospective strategies to accelerate sustainable urban development, such as working with informality and not against it, promoting inclusivity and access to resources, accelerating policy reforms, investing in rural towns, and investing in superior technology and innovation. These findings imply that there is a need to seek alternative development models and approaches, to address poverty, unemployment, and poor housing, aspects that negatively impact urban development planning and sustainable development. The paper recommends inclusive urban housing as a remedy to address the challenges of access, affordability, and the quality of housing facilities in urban areas.

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  1. PREreview

    This Zenodo record is a permanently preserved version of a PREreview. You can view the complete PREreview at https://prereview.org/reviews/13692271.

    This research explores the socio-economic dynamics inhibiting sustainable urban development in South African cities, emphasizing that urbanization will significantly increase. In general, the topic is highly relevant, especially in light of global urbanization trends. The focus on socio-economic nuances highlights critical areas that can often be overlooked, and the authors propose several strategies to promote sustainable urban development, such as working with informality rather than it, fostering inclusivity, formulating effective policy reforms, investing in rural towns to mitigate rural-urban migration pressures, and adopting superior technology and innovation in urban planning. The literature review also is well-structured, providing a solid argument.

    Overall, this work advances the field by highlighting the interconnectedness of socio-economic factors and urban planning, presenting a framework for addressing urbanization challenges through inclusive and context-sensitive strategies,

    However, there are still some minor issues which are better to be considered for enhancing the outcome of the paper.

    • Methodological Limitations: The reliance on literature review could be strengthened by including empirical data or case studies to validate findings. 

    • Implementation Gaps: While the paper provides strategies for sustainable urban development, it lacks a robust discussion on the practicalities of implementing these strategies at the municipal level.

    Minor Issues:

    • Structural Organization: The paper organization could benefit from clearer section headings and subheadings to guide readers through the arguments more effectively.

    • Abstract Length: The abstract is quite lengthy and could benefit from being more concise. It should summarize the key findings and recommendations in fewer sentences.

    • Transition Sentences: Some sections lack smooth transitions between paragraphs, which can disrupt the flow of the argument. Adding transition sentences can help guide the reader more effectively.

    • Conclusive Summary: The conclusion could be more robust by summarizing the implications of your findings and explicitly stating the next steps for research or policy action.

    • References Update: Please ensure that all references are the most current available, especially given that the data on urban trends can change rapidly.

    Competing interests

    The author declares that they have no competing interests.

  2. Version published to 10.3390/su16072803
  3. Version published to 10.20944/preprints202401.1828.v1