Urbanization Trends
Ellin Jaquez
SOC 120
November 18, 2011
Stephanie Fleming

Urbanization Trends
Urbanization can be defined as the increasing percentage of population in a given concentrated area during a specific period (Macionis, 2006). It occurs when there is a change in population and there is a need to move from rural areas in the outside of cities, to urban areas in the city. Many factors are taking into consideration before the big move range from climate change, geographical factors, clean water, education and employment opportunities.

In South Africa the urbanization process is focus on the climate and geographical factors. According to Todes, Kok, Wentzel, van Zyl, & Cross “South African urbanization was shaped historically by policies to control the movement and settlement of black people. Apartheid policies attempted to limit access by South Africans classified as ‘Africans’ to cities, and to confine many of them to ‘homelands’, most of which were predominantly rural and with limited economic bases. These policies, however, began to break down from the 1980s as people moved to the cities, although some settlement patterns have been remarkably persistent and movement to cities has not been as rapid as was expected. As is occurring internationally, urbanization rates have declined, and are now lower than they were under apartheid” (2010).

Most of Africa’s urban growth is likely to be accommodated in intense, unplanned settlements where most people will lack formal jobs and housing and will not pay taxes. Compared with previous urban transitions on other continents, Africa’s urbanization is being driven to a larger extent by poverty, conflict and demographic change and led to a less extent by industrialization and employment growth. African governments are responding to the urban challenge in quite different ways. Some appear uninterested