Formalising the Informal: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Sustainable Urban Development in South Africa

Mndzebele, Mhlalisi and Gumbo, Trynos and Letsoko, Vuyiswa (2025) Formalising the Informal: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Sustainable Urban Development in South Africa. URBAN INNOVATION: TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO CITIES HAVE GONE BEFORE. Medium sized cities and towns as a major arena of global urbanisation. Proceedings of REAL CORP 2025, 30th Intl. Conference on Urban Development, Regional Planning and Information Society. pp. 519-525. ISSN 2521-3938

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Abstract

The 21st century is the era of continuous rapid and high levels of urbanisation, particularly in cities of the developing world. Projections show that by 2050, over half of the global population will reside in urban areas. It is estimated by the United Nations (UN) that 71.3% of South Africa’s population will live in urban areas by 2030, increasing to nearly 80% by 2050. This study explores the diverse challenges hindering sustainable urban development in South Africa. The paper identifies key barriers through a systematic literature methodology, including the ripple effects of apartheid, the sheer prevalence of urban informal settlements, unemployment, and limited citizen engagement. However, it does not stop at identifying the problems. It also proposes an innovative approach: "Formalising the Informal" through a multi-stakeholder lens. It argues that achieving this goal requires addressing the informal sector's complexities, often viewed as a problem rather than a potential asset. The approach stresses collaboration between government, communities, and the private sector to integrate the informal sector into the urban fabric, supporting secondary cities and further tackling societal concerns such as unemployment and inadequate housing, adversely affect urban sustainable development. The study argues that recognising informal actors' ingenuity and economic contributions can pave the way for more sustainable and inclusive cities in South Africa.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	urban development, informality, formalising, multi-stakeholder, secondary cities
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HM Sociology J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government
Depositing User:	The CORP Team
Date Deposited:	24 May 2025 12:03
Last Modified:	07 Jul 2025 10:26
URI:	http://repository.corp.at/id/eprint/1210

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