Integrating Poor Populations in South African Cities - Agence ...

Toward Greater
Integration of Public
Policy
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The new housing policy, Breaking New Ground, shows a determination by the
government to lean toward “sustainable”, “integrated” and “compact” urban landscapes.
In his article “Unravelling the Different Meanings of Integration: The Urban Development
Framework of the South African Government” (Harrison et al., 2003, chapter 8), Edgar
Pieterse defines the various meanings of the word ‘integration’ in South African public
policy. According to him, it can designate:
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• either a more coordinated and cross-cutting method of governance;
• or greater attention given to participation by populations;
• or the three pillars of sustainable urban development — social, economic and
environmental aspects;
• or finally, consideration of different urban functions.
The South African government shows, at several levels and through various
initiatives, the determination to allow struggling populations to enter the urban space
and not remain excluded as they were during apartheid. To succeed in this, it is
© AFD 2009 Integrating Poor Populations in South African Cities