The right to the city and environmental justice in urban South Africa

South Africa’s current urban landscape is characterised by urban informality, inequality, and failing service delivery. Urban areas are further confronted with challenges such as increasing numbers of people, pressure on built environment infrastructure, pollution, and natural resources such as water that are under strain. These challenges affect how well cities and other urban areas can provide the benefits which people depend on for their health and well-being. As a result, local authorities struggle to meet the needs of the people who conduct their everyday lives within their jurisdictions. These needs include the ability to participate in decision-making processes, and the ability to access urban space, natural resources, and environmental services. The majority of South Africa’s population resides in urban areas, meaning that it is a necessary objective of the state to prioritise the lived experiences of people who live and work in cities. The right to the city and environmental justice are concepts denoting deliberate attempts to address inequality, poverty, marginalisation, and the lack of participation in decision-making processes and access to urban space, natural resources, and environmental services in urban areas. South Africa has well-rounded spatial planning, environmental management, and local planning law. These are guided by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 and in principle seek to address the persistent challenges currently characterising cities and towns across the country. Against this backdrop, this study explores the extent to which the South African domestic law aligns with the right to the city and environmental justice in urban contexts.

Grantor dc:publisher

Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• O’Donoghue, Michaela

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Du Plessis, Anel

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136030

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136030