Integration or Status Quo?: Residential Patterns and Segregation by Race in Post-Apartheid South Africa, 2001

Sangeeta Parashar, Montclair State University

High levels of residential segregation by race has been observed across South Africa reflecting socially engineered “regional planning” strategies (distorted urbanization and the creation of “homelands”) that were concomitant with segregationist and apartheid policies. However, empirically, post-apartheid residential and segregation patterns between Black-Africans and Whites as well as other minority groups (Coloureds and Asian-Indians) remain relatively under-explored. Using data from the 2001 South African Census, I compute dissimilarity and isolation indices in order to address the following questions. How segregated are Black Africans from other race/ethnic groups (Coloureds, Asian-Indians, and Whites)? And secondly, what is the role of socioeconomic factors in explaining the residential patterns of Black Africans? These questions are particularly relevant in a society where the marginalized social group constitutes a numerical majority of the population. The paper will conclude with a discussion of policy implications and limitations of the analysis.