Abstract
As a ‘reflective’ architectural practitioner in the City of Johannesburg I am finding there
are limitations in the understanding and its potential value add of participatory planning. This
is severely shortchanging communities. Through the Ivory Park and Alexandra Linear Market
case study, I unpack the dialogue between design and participation as potentially a powerful
mechanism for social justice. Although transformation is scribed into the South African
constitution and is ‘celebrated' through different forms of socio‐politics, characteristics of the
current political regime, silo’ed government spheres and hierarchy organisational structures
creates a potential undercurrent which hinders its very democracy. Themes of participation,
practice and urban development are three lenses through which the case studies are
unpacked. The paper seeks to reflect on the politics of participatory design in post‐apartheid
Johannesburg, and the complex interface between communities, professionals and city
officials in driving urban change.