Non-metropolitan Gated Retirement Communities in the Western Cape

Gated communities are a global phenomenon that has taken root across the globe. They are a defining residential feature of the post-apartheid built environment and are not only found in major cities, but in smaller settlements as well. There are gated communities that cater for specific niche markets. Gated retirement communities are such a niche market as they accommodate a particular market segment, namely, retirees. Gated retirement communities, as with non-retirement gated communities, are seen to promote class segregation and are viewed as sites of age clustering. This paper maps the distribution of retirement gated communities in non-metropolitan Western Cape. The towns of Oudtshoorn and Swellendam are case studied to identify the reasons why retirees have chosen to reside in these secure developments. By using questionnaires and face-to-face interviews, it is established that the towns have a number of pull factors that appeal to retirees. Furthermore, contrary to the widely held belief, security is not the foremost reason for retirees choosing to reside in gated communities. Consequently, a more nuanced view is necessary when investigating different types of gated communities in non-metropolitan locales. Furthermore, the application of rural-change theories could possibly provide a better theoretical underpinning than traditional, urban-biased gated community theories. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.