Reimagining Public Participation in Urban Development: Insights from Bramfischerville, Johannesburg

Keywords: public participation; urban development; urban governance; mixed-methods; South Africa
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

Public participation is a critical theme in urban studies, yet comparatively little is known about how the public perceives participation in urban development. This research adopts a mixed-methods approach in Bramfischerville, an underprivileged residential area in Johannesburg, South Africa, and draws on insights from a survey experiment with residents (n=502), group interviews, a participatory workshop, and key informant interviews. It foregrounds residents’ views on participation and contrasts them with conventional interpretations in urban development literature and practice. The findings suggest that residents strongly support public participation in urban development, with a preference for more inclusive and interactive forms of engagement. Furthermore, public support for participation is shaped by people’s experiences with previous state interventions. Residents of Bramfischerville also have a broader understanding of participation compared to how it is typically discussed in theory and implemented in planning processes. For them, participation is an ongoing process involving different actors and is about more than influencing government—it is about building relationships and trust. Building on this research, several policy recommendations are developed, underscoring the need for a shift in participatory governance, where state-society negotiations are essential to redefining the terms of engagement, empowering residents, and embedding participation within broader democratic systems.