Towards the Creation of Healthier City Neighbourhoods for Marginalised Communities in South Africa: A Case Study of the South Durban Industrial Basin in the City of Durban

This paper critically evaluates efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of pollution on residential communities that are located next to polluting chemical industries in the South Durban Basin area, in the city of Durban, South Africa. The economic agenda ignored socio-environmental imperatives as poor residential communities and polluting chemical industries were juxtaposed, which made the area prone to environmental and health hazards. Empirical research is conducted focusing on the relations among industry, the people, housing, health and the neighbourhood built environment. The paper notes that efforts to create healthier livable city neighbourhoods in Africa, and South Africa in particular, are hampered by the superimposition of industrial capitalism over social and environmental aspects of sustainable development. In this context, the paper argues marginalised neighbourhoods need to proactively articulate their environmental concerns in ways that foster the cooperation and remedial action of other stakeholders of urban governance especially the state and private sector. © 2012 The Author(s).