Local economic development and urban poverty alleviation: The experience of post-apartheid South Africa

Urban poverty is a policy issue of growing significance in post-apartheid South Africa. In terms of the new Constitution the developmental role of local governments is given considerable attention. Against a background analysis of the best practice of local antipoverty strategies in the developing world, this paper reviews the experience of eight case studies of local economic, development (LED) initiatives. The case studies review a cluster of research findings from South African metropolitan areas (Midland, Port Elizabeth, inner-city Durban, Khayelitsha and Winterveld) followed by issues from secondary cities (Nelspruit, Harrismith) and small towns (Stutterheim). A key conclusion from the experience of post-apartheid South Africa is that LED practitioners are currently struggling to find means to integrate their LED initiatives with the task of poverty alleviation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.