Privatized public space in Johannesburg and Nairobi: unexpected opportunities for sociability in highly segregated cities

ABSTRACT

Public spaces in the historic cores of Johannesburg and Nairobi are currently being reshaped by informality, neoliberal spatial practices, and fear. Historically, colonialism and apartheid denied the ‘publicness’ of such spaces. Critics lament that post-democratization privatization exacerbates urban fragmentation. Others highlight the failures of government to provide and maintain public space. This study reveals a tangled spectrum of user perceptions which this article captures through visualizing the ‘urban motif’. The findings suggest that the pluralization of public space management offers unexpected opportunities to foster arenas for multifarious forms of sociability in otherwise highly segregated cities.

Acknowledgments

Our thanks are extended to Nisha van den Hoven for her curation of FuturePart; all of our respondents for their time and help; Mark Kiarie, Mucyo Gasana and Mark Mwoka for their research in Nairobi; Steven Moore and German Bodenbender for the time lapse analysis; Alice Mahlangu for her assistance with Johannesburg interviews; Fred Swart and Liesl Niemand for the preparation of graphics.

Disclosure statement

In accordance with the Journal of Urban Design’s policy and our ethical obligations as researchers, we are reporting that this research, undertaken by FuturePart, was funded by Boogertman + Partners. It may lead to the development of products which may be licensed to either entity, in which we have a business and/or financial interest. We have disclosed those interests fully to the Journal of Urban Design, and have in place an approved plan for managing any potential conflicts arising from this arrangement.

Notes

1. In this text, ‘public space’ refers to publicly owned and managed spaces unless otherwise stipulated.

2. Street traders and shop owners were often unable to leave their businesses unattended. However, conducting interviews on/overlooking the street meant that they could gesture to the space around/beyond their stalls/stores. Some expert interviews took place at relevant universities or I/NGO premises. Some business community interviewees were reluctant to venture outside of their places of work due to security or privacy concerns.

3. Not all interviewees produced a cognitive map due to drawing anxieties.

4. This is equivalent to approximately US$2,142,000 at the 2019 rate.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Boogertman + Partners.