Township economies in the GCR

The provincial government and municipal governments in Gauteng are pursuing policies with the intent to ‘modernise’, ‘formalise’ and ‘re-industrialise’ township economies in the province. Yet, it is not always clear how these terms are understood and the implications of government interventions on township economic development. The first part of the project investigates the uses, understandings and key debates of the term "township economies" in the context of the GCR. The second part investigates the translation of township economies policies on the ground and the effects of interventions.

A map of the month spatially representing unemployment in two distinct ways (unemployment rate vs unemployment density) was produced in August 2018. An Occasional Paper titled ‘The uses, meanings and debates of the term “township economies” in the Gauteng context' is currently being revised with inputs from the GCRO Research Oversight Committee. external inputs. Planning for the second leg of the project is currently underway.

Outputs

Map of the month

Matjomane, M., Cheruiyot, K., Katumba, S. (2018) ‘Mapping unemployment’. GCRO Map of the Month. 31 August http://www.gcro.ac.za/outputs/map-of-the-month/detail/mapping-unemployment/

Presentations

Mamokete Modiba (December 2023) ‘GCR Townships in the context of the economic crisis', Public Sector Economists Forum, Microsoft Teams, 7 December 2023.

Mamokete Modiba (August 2020) ‘Interrogating the concept of “township economies” in the Gauteng context’, Southern African City Studies Conference, Online, 31 August 2020.

Mamokete Modiba (July 2020) ‘Interrogating the concept of “township economies” in the Gauteng context’, GCRO Internal Review Workshop, 1 July 2020.

Mamokete Modiba (December 2018) ‘Township Economies in the GCR’, City of Ekurhuleni Strategy and Corporate Planning Department Strategic Planning Session, Kempton Park. 12 December 2018.

Media

Mamokete Matjomane was cited in an article on News24 (5 October 2020) on restriction of foreign nationals by the Gauteng Township Economy Development Bill to participate in designated sectors in the township spaces. Available: https://www.news24.com/news24/giftedarticle/OUUPRCmYpfjdK9tj0nqz.

Mamokete Matjomane was cited on Bloomberg (27 November 2020) on Lockdowns in South Africa Freed Township Entrepreneurs to Thrive - Bloomberg.

Mamokete Matjomane was interviewed on the Open News (Channel 120 on Open View) to comment on the Gauteng Township Economy Development Bill banning foreign nationals from opening business in townships on 6 October 2020.

Last updated: 11 December 2023.