Living Under Apartheid: Aspects of Urbanization and Social Change in South Africa

Originally published in 1982, this book covers the unique spatial structure of society which was South Africa under apartheid. It brings together a cohesive set of research-based contributions to the understanding of this system which was without contemporary parallels. The book considers issues such as industrial location and migrant labour at a national scale. The case studies, which are fully illustrated, deal with problems associated with work and housing for blacks, set in the 3 major metropolitan areas of Cape Town, the Witwatersrand and Durban. Of particular importance is the emphasis given to so-called ’spontaneous’ (or ’squatter’) settlement and to informal-sector work for blacks in the emerging apartheid city - something which links directly with central issues of development studies.

David M. Smith was Emeritus Professor of Geography at Queen Mary, University of London.