Ontspanning in stedelike swart woongebiede: Beplanningsriglyne in 'n krisisituasie

Abstract

Urbanized areas in South Africa are increasingly fraught with the severe problem of a lack of open space. Against this background the recreation crisis in urban black townships is discussed. Intense demand for space in the growing urban areas holds the danger of utilizing all available space for housing at the expense of the development of recreation facilities which, in black urban areas, is continually being neglected. Findings of a research project in the PWV area (1986-1989) indicated that poor plan­ning and undefined long term objec­tives have, to a large extent, caused the present crisis in providing for recrea­tion. Very often the authorities con­cerned have had to resort to reactive crisis management as the only option. Yet urbanization is not a sudden occurrence and long term planning to provide simultaneously for recreation and housing, is the ideal. Several guidelines for planning, based on research findings, are suggested to address problems in existing townships and to prevent newly developed towns from experiencing similar crises.
*This article is written in Afrikaans.