The role secondary cities play in the global space economy and national urban hierarchies is increasingly receiving attention from scholars and international agencies, most notably the Cities Alliance. Secondary Cities and Development considers the role of secondary cities through the lens of South Africa, a middle-income country with characteristics of both the developed and developing worlds. This book brings together a broad overview of international literature on secondary cities in South Africa and mirrors them against global experience.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Secondary cities in South Africa: national settlement patterns and urban research

Lochner Marais, Etienne Nel and Ronnie Donaldson

Chapter 2: The international literature and context

Lochner Marais, Etienne Nel and Ronnie Donaldson

Chapter 3: City of Matlosana

Deidre van Rooyen and Molefi Lenka

Chapter 4: Emalahleni

Malène Campbell, Verna Nel and Thulisile Mphambukeli

Chapter 5: Emfuleni

Lochner Marais, Molefi Lenka, Jan Cloete and Wynand Myburgh

Chapter 6: George

Ronnie Donaldson and Daan Toerien

Chapter 7: Polokwane

Lejone Ntema and Anita Venter

Chapter 8: Umhlathuze

Johannes Wessels and Kolisa Rani

Chapter 9: The role of secondary cities in South Africa's development

Lochner Marais, Etienne Nel and Ronnie Donaldson

Lochner Marais is Professor in Development Studies at the Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, South Africa.

Etienne Nel is Professor of Geography at the University of Otago in New Zealand and Visiting Professor, Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, South Africa.

Ronnie Donaldson is Professor of Geography at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.