Urbanization in South Africa
by Shafiqa Davids of South Africa
The rate of urbanization in South Africa has been extremely rapid since the 1950's. It is estimated that by the year 2000, 36 million people will live in urban areas of South Africa. With rapid urbanization comes many problems because it places huge demands on land, water, transportation, employment, and housing.
Not all people living in cities enjoy the same standard of living. Some live in grand houses with many rooms and spacious yards, others live in modest houses built on limited land, and many more live in closely built shacks made of packing cases, sheets of plastic, and corrugated iron. These shacks are often situated near wealthier neighborhoods, and this tremendous contrast of wealth and poverty is a common occurrence found throughout our larger communities.
Some urban residents have a good supply of water and electricity and their human waste goes directly into the city's sewers, but those who live in "squatter camps" lack these benefits and are forced to live without electricity and use open pit toilets which can create serious health hazards.
It will be the focus of the South African delegation to find possible solutions to the problems of rapid urbanization. At the Summit in Oregon, South African students will work in multinational teams to formulate fair, effective solutions to problems such as rapid urbanization.
Did You Know
* If the problems of urbanization are not solved, social unrest and environmental pollution will continue to get worse.
* In the early 80's there was 1 formal house for every 3.5 "white" people in South Africa, and only 1 formal house for every 43 "black" people.
*Urban growth has now reached the stage where its impact on humans and the environment is felt on a planetary scale.