The Centre for Social Sciences Research (CSSR) and the  Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa  (IDCPPA) at the University of Cape Town invite you to join us for a lunchtime seminar on 28 April 2026 at 12:45pm. The seminar will be presented by Professor Andries du Toit.

About the Seminar:

Urban Settlements on Traditional Authority Land: Four Case Studies

Across South Africa's peri-urban frontier, enduring urban settlements are emerging on land governed by traditional authorities. While these spaces are taking shape outside - and even in spite of - the enabling legislation created for urban development, they are not not temporary or marginal. Rather they have a remarkably regular urban form, and are characterised by significant levels of private investment, evolving property markets and hybrid forms of governance. Drawing on case studies from Dassenhoek, KwaMhlanga, Hammanskraal and Kabokweni, the paper reflects on what these dynamics mean for urban governance, municipal finance and current policy debates, including the proposed Equitable Access to Land Bill.

Speakers

Andries du Toit is a researcher and teacher based at the School of Government at the University of the Western Cape. He has done extensive work on rural development, chronic poverty, inequality and landlessness in South Africa. His current research focus is on the challenges of postcolonial statecraft and public administration in democratic South Africa.

  28 March 2026
 12:45 - 14:00 SAST
   CSSR Seminar Room, 4.29 Robert Leslie Social Science Building, UCT

Hosted by the Centre for Social Science Research and the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa