Our Urban Future: Highlighting the growth trajectory of South Africa's settlements

Abstract

South Africa is experiencing high levels of population expansion and urbanisation, and this growth is occurring at an increasingly rapid pace. Population change over time (growth or decline) is an inevitable phenomenon. Current projections indicate an additional 19-24 million people to be added to the national population in the next three decades, and the vast majority of this growth will be in cities and towns. Unless this growth is effectively planned for and efficiently managed, it will place enormous pressure on bulk infrastructure delivery, as well as having critical implications for national and regional policies and inter-governmental prioritisation efforts.