Unlocking urban opportunity

This post argues that South Africa’s cities continue to reflect apartheid-era spatial patterns, with many low-income residents living far from major employment centres and therefore facing long, costly commutes and reduced access to economic opportunities. Using satellite imagery, census data, tax records, and administrative datasets, the study shows that neighborhoods located farther from business districts generally have lower employment rates and lower household wealth, particularly in historically disadvantaged townships such as Soweto, the Cape Flats, and Umlazi. The authors propose a spatial diagnostic tool to identify densely populated but economically isolated areas, helping policymakers target investments in transport, land-use planning, housing, and local economic development to improve urban inclusion, productivity, and access to jobs.

Abstract based on original source.