Map of the month

The world is reeling as COVID-19 infections spread. This Map of the Month aids an understanding of the localised risk factors that might contribute to transmission of COVID-19, or amplify its health and socio-economic impacts in Gauteng communities. It explores two key themes: (1) the multiple risk factors to maintaining social distance and preventative hygiene; and (2) the multiple risk factors for health and socio-economic vulnerability during an outbreak or broader shutdown.

Previous maps of the month, such as that for October 2018, have shown how the number of residential buildings in Gauteng grew by 60% in the 15 years between 2001 and 2016. Here we map three residential types: gated communities, informal dwellings and government housing projects. The maps reveal that to understand ongoing spatial segregation in Gauteng we must not only look at the settlement patterns inherited from apartheid, but also what has been built where over the last three decades.

The year 2020 marks 20 years since the final phase of local government restructuring which saw, among other things, the establishment of metropolitan government in South Africa. This map of the month outlines the evolution of municipalities in Gauteng since 2000 as well as future prospects. It is clear that although the consolidation of municipalities in 2000 was referred to as the final phase, contestation over the most appropriate shape of local government in Gauteng has continued, and is likely far from over.

In order to assess the level of community participation in municipal affairs, the GCRO’s Quality of Life Survey V (2017/18) asked a question on respondents’ participation in the Integrated Development Planning process. On average across the sample, 20% of respondents were aware of the IDP but have not participated in it. Only about 3% of the sample had heard of the IDP and had actually participated, while the majority (77%) had never heard of the IDP. This Map of the Month shows the percentage per ward in each of these categories, and also analyses IDP participation by race and income group.

In recent years there has been growing global and national interest in mental health. In the Quality of Life V (2017/18) survey respondents were asked how often they felt depressed or hopeless in the two weeks preceding their participation in the survey. This map shows the percentage of respondents per Gauteng ward who said 'nearly every day' or 'more than half the days'.