ABSTRACT

Cities across the world are experiencing unprecedented change. These changes contribute to the transformation of public space that is often regarded in a very negative light due to decline and privatisation. Similar trends are also evident in South Africa and raise many questions about the nature of change, especially within the broader context of socio-spatial transformation (a key objective of our current government). This chapter presents a brief overview of changing cities and public spaces, as well as a general introduction to public space in South Africa. This is followed by an overview of the research methods used to gather the information, as well as a description of the notion of assemblage. The latter term serves as a descriptive lens and orientation for presenting the multiple narratives of public space in the country through a multidimensional framework of change. The final section offers an outline of the various chapters of the book.