Post-Apartheid developments and challenges

• In 1990, FW de Klerk unbanned political organisations and released many political prisoners including Nelson Mandela.

• This set the stage for South Africa’s political transition to a democracy and the election of the first black President, Nelson Mandela on 27 April 1994. Discriminatory laws were repealed and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa was drafted, which includes a Bill of Rights.

• Since 1994, the City of Cape Town has experienced many political and administrative changes.

• In 1996, the first democratic local government elections were held. Greater Cape Town was divided into six municipalities plus a Metropolitan Council.

• In 1999, the Unicity Commission was established to oversee the change from seven municipal councils to a single Unicity.

• Cape Town is the city with the greatest cultural and political diversity in South Africa. This has contributed to the many political changes in City since 1994 (e.g. Cape Town has had Mayors representing the National Party, the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance).

• Every political change has resulted in changes in the management and administration of the city. These frequent changes have had a negative impact on planning, development, maintenance and service delivery in this rapidly growing city.

Development challenges

• All over the world, countries are becoming more urbanised. About 400 cities in the world now have more than one million inhabitants. Urbanisation has many advantages but also creates social and environmental challenges.

• In just ten years (1996-2006), Cape Town’s population grew by 700 000 people. More than one million people, or one third of Cape Town’s population, live in poverty.

• In 20 years (1985-2005), the developed area of Cape Town grew by 40%. Rapid urban growth has resulted in an increasing housing backlog, and ageing infrastructure although provision of most basic services has kept pace with growth.

• Cape Town’s annual economic growth rate has averaged 4% for the past decade. Despite this growth unemployment has almost doubled over the same period.

Rapid urban development

Rapid urban development and poor planning have put strain on people and the environment in the City:

• Urban sprawl is a problem in Cape Town. Formal housing developments and informal settlements have spread out across the city. Urban sprawl reduces urban efficiency, increases costs of services, results in loss of agriculture, conservation and recreation worthy land.

• Recent electricity supply problems as well as water availability are likely to be increasingly important issues in the future.

• The amount of waste disposed per person is increasing at an alarming rate, showing a 60% increase since 1999. The city has, as a result, needed to find a new regional landfill site.

• The City is running out of space for cemeteries because many lowland areas are waterlogged in winter. If more people chose to be cremated when they die, this would make more land available for the living.

• Natural areas have been lost due to habitat destruction and alien vegetation invasion, threatening the unique biodiversity in the lowlands of the City.

Did you know?

Planning a sustainable City

• South Africa’s Constitution guarantees all the country’s citizens the right to a healthy and sustainable environment.

• Long-term planning is needed to ensure sustainable development of cities, towns and rural areas. To encourage sustainable development, all municipalities have to produce Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).

• In 2001, the City of Cape Town adopted an Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy (IMEP). This policy aims to:

  • Protect the City’s natural and cultural heritage

  • Define an “urban edge” in order to limit urban sprawl and make the City more efficient

  • Promote sustainable use of water and energy

  • Control water and air pollution

  • Reduce and manage solid waste

  • Educate the people of Cape Town to live sustainably.

• The City has a department that checks plans for new developments in order to limit negative impacts on the environment and people and promote sustainable development.

• The City has monitored the health and sustainability of the environment and published its findings each year in a State of Environment report and more recently a Sustainability Indicators Report.

The value of tourism

• Since South Africa became a democracy, the country has become a popular tourist destination. Tourism has become one of the City’s most important industries. Millions of people visit destinations like Table Mountain, Cape Point, Robben Island, Kirstenbosch, the Waterfront and Cape Town’s townships every year.

• It is important to protect Cape Town’s natural and cultural heritage and to develop centres where visitors can learn more about this heritage. Cape Town must remain a popular tourist destination that provides local people with employment and income.

• Eco-Tourism  is an important sustainable development opportunity for Cape Town.

Did you know?

1. Who says?
   We may believe that it is important to look after the environment, but did you know that the environment is protected by International Agreements and by South Africa’s Constitution and laws? Here are just a few of them ...

2. South African Policies & Laws:
   The South African government has drawn up many laws and policies to protect the environment. You can find these and other Acts on the website: www.polity.org.za.  Here are but a few ...

Click the buttons to find out more about the history and development of Cape Town:

	Early people of the Cape
	Settlement and Expansion
	Urbanisation and Apartheid
	Post-Apartheid developments and challenges