A historical study of Motherwell with specific reference to the development of segregated housing in the city of Port Elizabeth from 1980 onwards
- Authors: Yola, Siyabonga
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Low-income housing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Elizabeth , Public housing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Elizabeth , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/70434 , vital:78352
- Description: This study focuses on the development of Motherwell Township from 1983 to 1986. Motherwell conveniently and justifiably serves as a good case study of the apartheid government’s response to black housing shortage and squatting in Port Elizabeth. Designed to accommodate victims of the 1977 floods that displaced ‘squatter residents’ of Soweto and Veeplaas. Yet, there is an apparent lack of documentation of the history of Motherwell as a specific place embedded with design profoundly influenced by apartheid urban planning. Despite the significance of this black township founded in 1983, there is a lack of historical detail around challenges experienced by developers and the role of individuals involved in the development of Motherwell. For example, we lack knowledge on how the white propertied class of the surrounding suburbs of Bluewater Bay, Swartkops and Redhouse, poignantly and quite distinctly, came to the fore in resisting the development of the new black township in their neighbourhood. They used environmental discourse to oppose the development of Motherwell. Apart from the environmental impact on the Swartkops estuary, the ratepayers associated the development of Motherwell with squalor, diseases and crime. In addition, there is a lack of a substantial account of how white landowners opposed the expropriation of land where Motherwell was established. This thesis also highlights the fact that the lack of housing started long before the old black locations, such as Strangers, and other locations that were removed from the city in the turn of the nineteenth century. It demonstrates that urban housing crisis was later intensified by the gap created by the local government in the 1970s. During this decade the city council did not show any interest in providing proper housing for urban blacks. With the lack of new township during this period and the deprivation of blacks from buying a freehold land in the city, black housing shortage became a serious crisis. As a result, black residents, particularly those who did not qualify for urban housing rented backyard rooms in townships, such as New Brighton, Zwide and other local townships. Some migrants opted for informal settlements that mushroomed on the periphery of the local township, such as Zwide. Living or rather squatting in areas such as Soweto and Veeplaas was not acceptable. These areas lacked every conventional element, such as paved roads, electricity, and private toilets. Besides, they constantly suffered floods and fire disasters. In order to solve squatting problem, the local authorities developed Motherwell. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-12
- Authors: Yola, Siyabonga
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Low-income housing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Elizabeth , Public housing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Port Elizabeth , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/70434 , vital:78352
- Description: This study focuses on the development of Motherwell Township from 1983 to 1986. Motherwell conveniently and justifiably serves as a good case study of the apartheid government’s response to black housing shortage and squatting in Port Elizabeth. Designed to accommodate victims of the 1977 floods that displaced ‘squatter residents’ of Soweto and Veeplaas. Yet, there is an apparent lack of documentation of the history of Motherwell as a specific place embedded with design profoundly influenced by apartheid urban planning. Despite the significance of this black township founded in 1983, there is a lack of historical detail around challenges experienced by developers and the role of individuals involved in the development of Motherwell. For example, we lack knowledge on how the white propertied class of the surrounding suburbs of Bluewater Bay, Swartkops and Redhouse, poignantly and quite distinctly, came to the fore in resisting the development of the new black township in their neighbourhood. They used environmental discourse to oppose the development of Motherwell. Apart from the environmental impact on the Swartkops estuary, the ratepayers associated the development of Motherwell with squalor, diseases and crime. In addition, there is a lack of a substantial account of how white landowners opposed the expropriation of land where Motherwell was established. This thesis also highlights the fact that the lack of housing started long before the old black locations, such as Strangers, and other locations that were removed from the city in the turn of the nineteenth century. It demonstrates that urban housing crisis was later intensified by the gap created by the local government in the 1970s. During this decade the city council did not show any interest in providing proper housing for urban blacks. With the lack of new township during this period and the deprivation of blacks from buying a freehold land in the city, black housing shortage became a serious crisis. As a result, black residents, particularly those who did not qualify for urban housing rented backyard rooms in townships, such as New Brighton, Zwide and other local townships. Some migrants opted for informal settlements that mushroomed on the periphery of the local township, such as Zwide. Living or rather squatting in areas such as Soweto and Veeplaas was not acceptable. These areas lacked every conventional element, such as paved roads, electricity, and private toilets. Besides, they constantly suffered floods and fire disasters. In order to solve squatting problem, the local authorities developed Motherwell. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-12
A social history of white working class women in industrializing Port Elizabeth, 1917-1936
- Authors: Gibbs, Patricia Anne
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Women -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- History , Women -- Employment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- History , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2543 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002395 , Women -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- History , Women -- Employment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- History , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
- Description: The study period saw a significant increase in the urbanisation of whites and blacks in Port Elizabeth induced by droughts and coercive legislation, but also by burgeoning industrialisation. Industry had been given great stimulus by World War 1 and maintained by protectionist legislation in the 1920s which the local state and industrialists came to endorse. The ethos of the town was overwhelmingly British in terms of the population, the composition of the local council, business interests and the prevailing culture. Whites formed the largest component of the population in Port Elizabeth during the inter-war years. The majority of white women lived in the North End, the industrial hub and a major working class area of the city. Although the provision of housing was initially neglected, economic and subeconomic housing in the 1930s helped to create both racial separation and a sense of community between sectors of the working class. Yet, white working class women did not form a homogenous group, but rather consisted of different ethnic groups, occupations and classes. The Afrikaans speaking sector, formed a significant component of the industrial labour force especially in the leather, food and beverage and clothing industries. In a centre where white labour was favoured and marketed as an advantage to outside investors, they rapidly displaced coloured women. The female workforce was basically young, underpaid (especially in comparison to wages on the Rand) and temporary. While white women were still in evidence in other occupations such as domestic work and in the informal sector, their numbers here steadily diminished as both racial segregation and municipal regulation, were implemented. Against a background of chaotic social conditions, large slum areas and the spread of infectious diseases, the local council did much to improve health services particularly for women and children. Poor relief instituted in 1919 was, however, less forthcoming and female - headed households were often left to rely on the services of local welfare organisations. The extended family, however, was the norm affording support against atomization. Although pressurised by social ills throughout the period, the family was increasingly buttressed by state assistance. Prevailing morality was likewise actively constructed in terms of legislative repression and racial division. This often lead to social aberrations such as infanticide which was only reduced by the increase of state assistance and, in the longer term, social mobility of the whites.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
- Authors: Gibbs, Patricia Anne
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Women -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- History , Women -- Employment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- History , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2543 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002395 , Women -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- History , Women -- Employment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- History , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
- Description: The study period saw a significant increase in the urbanisation of whites and blacks in Port Elizabeth induced by droughts and coercive legislation, but also by burgeoning industrialisation. Industry had been given great stimulus by World War 1 and maintained by protectionist legislation in the 1920s which the local state and industrialists came to endorse. The ethos of the town was overwhelmingly British in terms of the population, the composition of the local council, business interests and the prevailing culture. Whites formed the largest component of the population in Port Elizabeth during the inter-war years. The majority of white women lived in the North End, the industrial hub and a major working class area of the city. Although the provision of housing was initially neglected, economic and subeconomic housing in the 1930s helped to create both racial separation and a sense of community between sectors of the working class. Yet, white working class women did not form a homogenous group, but rather consisted of different ethnic groups, occupations and classes. The Afrikaans speaking sector, formed a significant component of the industrial labour force especially in the leather, food and beverage and clothing industries. In a centre where white labour was favoured and marketed as an advantage to outside investors, they rapidly displaced coloured women. The female workforce was basically young, underpaid (especially in comparison to wages on the Rand) and temporary. While white women were still in evidence in other occupations such as domestic work and in the informal sector, their numbers here steadily diminished as both racial segregation and municipal regulation, were implemented. Against a background of chaotic social conditions, large slum areas and the spread of infectious diseases, the local council did much to improve health services particularly for women and children. Poor relief instituted in 1919 was, however, less forthcoming and female - headed households were often left to rely on the services of local welfare organisations. The extended family, however, was the norm affording support against atomization. Although pressurised by social ills throughout the period, the family was increasingly buttressed by state assistance. Prevailing morality was likewise actively constructed in terms of legislative repression and racial division. This often lead to social aberrations such as infanticide which was only reduced by the increase of state assistance and, in the longer term, social mobility of the whites.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
Liverpool of the Cape: Port Elizabeth harbour development 1820-70
- Authors: Inggs, Eric Jonathan
- Date: 1987
- Subjects: Harbors -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Exports -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Imports -- South Africa -- East London , Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- History , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:1038 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004646 , Harbors -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Exports -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Imports -- South Africa -- East London , Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- History , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
- Description: From the abstract: Fairy tales aside this study is an analysis of Port Elizabeth harbour development during its first half century from 1820-70. Despite the fact that Port Elizabeth quickly came to dominate Cape trade very little was actually done to improve its port facilities. Superficially the impression one gains from the available material is that everything was done by government not to develop a harbour at Algoa Bay. But the real question is: was harbour development really necessary at Port Elizabeth during the period under consideration? The answer must be no. The lack of facilities certainly did not hinder the massive expansion of wool exports that took place before 1870.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1987
- Authors: Inggs, Eric Jonathan
- Date: 1987
- Subjects: Harbors -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Exports -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Imports -- South Africa -- East London , Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- History , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:1038 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004646 , Harbors -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Exports -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Imports -- South Africa -- East London , Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- History , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- History
- Description: From the abstract: Fairy tales aside this study is an analysis of Port Elizabeth harbour development during its first half century from 1820-70. Despite the fact that Port Elizabeth quickly came to dominate Cape trade very little was actually done to improve its port facilities. Superficially the impression one gains from the available material is that everything was done by government not to develop a harbour at Algoa Bay. But the real question is: was harbour development really necessary at Port Elizabeth during the period under consideration? The answer must be no. The lack of facilities certainly did not hinder the massive expansion of wool exports that took place before 1870.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1987
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