Abstract
This chapter provides the context of South African from both a geographical and socio-economic perspective; as well as from a regional perspective. As one of the introductory chapters, it also sets the discussion on spatial inequality by providing the physical, socio-economic and political context of the country but also in relation to the broader African region. It argues that the physical endowments of the country did not only attract development, but were also drivers of a multiplicity of resource exploitation, distribution and consumption. The impact of these socio-economic activities are not only confined to the national boundaries; but are also felt across the borders—hence the identity of South Africa as a regional economic powerhouse. In this regard, this chapter forms the basis for analysing the dynamics that influence the patterns of spatial inequality that emerged and are prevailing in South Africa.
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Magidimisha, H.H., Chipungu, L. (2019). South Africa in a Context. In: Spatial Planning in Service Delivery. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19850-3_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19850-3_2
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