A comparative study of the accessibility of socio-economic services in two impoverished neighbourhoods in Cape Town, South Africa

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Literature shows that many of the apartheid elements still remain in the spatial layout of cities. Cape Town specifically has many of these attributes where poorer areas still seem to measure at the lower end of investment priorities. In analysing and comparing Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, average monthly income levels, diversity, poverty rate, employment, car ownership, development density, housing affordability and mixed land use is compared to accessibility of socio-economic services. This includes proximity to employment, multimodal transport accessibility, healthcare services, education facilities, shopping locations and neighbourhood parks. Accessibility to these services where measured using a walking distance of 800 meters with an associated walking time of 10 to 15 minutes, as new urbanist principles focus on a 10 minute walking accessibility to socio-economic services. The results show a contrast between different income areas in terms of adherence to new urbanist principles with higher income areas having larger shopping areas and parks, but less public transport accessibility. In terms of income and racial diversity there was no adherence by Mitchells Plain or Khayelitsha. Public transport is laid out more efficiently in Khayelitsha than in Mitchells Plain, as it reaches more facilities. Mitchells Plain has a smaller population than Khayelitsha, therefore the latter has a higher population within 30 minutes of their employment destination. The number of healthcare facilities were adequate as was walking distance analysis to transport hubs. Both education and shopping facilities showed good levels of accessibility in terms of transport hub access and walking distance coverage. Parks showed some adherence to new urbanist principles in terms of walking distance in Mitchells Plain but Khayelitsha failed to adhere to these principles as it has too few parks per area covered. Overall most facilities had an adequate degree of accessibility in accordance with 800 meter walking distance coverage and transport hub accessibility.

AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Die literatuur dui daarop dat baie van die elemente van apartheid steeds in die ruimtelike uitleg van stede voorkom. Kaapstad bevat spesifiek baie van hierdie eienskappe waar armer gebiede steeds aan die onderpunt van die beleggings prioriteite val. In die ontleding en vergelyking van Khayelitsha en Mitchells Plein, is die gemiddelde maandelikse inkomste vlakke, diversiteit, armoede, werkgeleenthede, motor eienaarskap, ontwikkeling digtheid, bekostigbaarheid van behuising en gemengde grondgebruik vergelyk met die toeganklikheid van sosio-ekonomiese dienste. Toeganklikheid tot hierdie dienste word gemeet op 'n loopafstand van 800 meter met 'n gepaardgaande looptyd van 10 tot 15 minute, aangesien new urbanist beginsels op 'n 10 minute stap afstand tot sosio-ekonomiese dienste fokus. Die resultate toon 'n kontras tussen verskillende inkomste gebiede aan in terme van die nakoming van new urbanist beginsels, met hoër inkomste gebiede wat groter inkopie gebiede en parke beset, maar minder toeganklikheid is vir openbare vervoer. Wat Mitchells Plein of Khayelitsha betref, was daar geen nakoming van inkomste - en rasse diversiteit nie. Openbare vervoer word doeltreffender in Khayelitsha uitgelê as in Mitchells Plein, aangesien dit meer fasiliteite bereik. Die aantal gesondheidsorgfasiliteite ten opsigte van loopafstand dekking, en vervoer modus toeganklikheid was ook voldoende. Beide onderwys- en inkopie-fasiliteite het goeie vlakke van toeganklikheid getoon ten opsigte van toegang tot vervoer modusse en loopafstand dekking. Parke het 'n mate van voldoening aan new urbanist beginsels ten opsigte van loopafstand in Mitchells Plein behou, maar Khayelitsha het nie hierdie beginsels nagekom nie, aangesien dit te min parke per gebied het. Oor die algemeen het die meeste fasiliteite 'n voldoende mate van toeganklikheid gehad, in ooreenstemming met 800 meter loopafstand dekking en toeganklikheid tot vervoermodusse.

Masters