Abstract
Urban and regional planning encompass the sociological perspective of regions,
studying the social, environmental, economic, and human structures for sustainable
development. Contrastingly, urban sociology provides urban planning with the
fundamentals of policy-making and the facilitation of social cohesion. Furthermore,
rural planning is the part and parcel of urban and regional planning that aims to
enhance the quality of life and well-being in rural neighbourhoods. Due to existing
common misconceptions and prejudices following the social norms and beliefs due to
various cultural and religious affiliations, queer communities need to be emancipated
through inclusion in African rural geographical spaces. Although some of the United
Kingdom and American countries implemented measures for the emancipation of
sexual minorities, there is still a gap in the protection of their human rights in Africa.
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and other legislature protects protect
and govern the queer community against discrimination, however, intermissions still
exist. The study uses a qualitative approach to data collection that includes case
studies, ethnography, and phenomenology research approaches, with interviews and
questionnaires as data collection methods, and narrative and thematic data analysis
methods, to study the challenges faced by the queer communities in Ga-Makofane
and Mahubahuba. The paper further demonstrates how town and regional planning,
can facilitate inclusive rural neighbourhoods. This is due to the evident migration of
queer communities to safer and inclusive spaces, with cities being the priority areas.
The findings indicate that the exclusiveness of queer individuals in rural settings
results from indigenous social dynamics leading to forms of violence, discrimination,
and rejection.
Although that is the case, the queer populace continues growing and facing socioeconomic
and spatial challenges within rural neighbourhoods, stimulating the need for
the development of inclusive rural spaces through the facilitation of social justice and
inclusive town and regional planning and policy-making. The study recommended
relevant and required adjustments to rural neighbourhood planning and measures to
facilitate integrated town and regional planning.
Keywords: Queer, Town and Regional Planning, Social Justice, Ethnography,
Phenomenology.