Abstract
Past spatial planning practices have left developing cities such as the City of Johannesburg with sprawling low-density areas of settlement, lacking viable public transport systems. The majority of marginalized citizens in South Africa are still living on the fringes of the cities, commuting daily, often at considerable cost, long distances to access work and economic opportunities. As such, it is very critical in developing cities to trace the existing spatial patterns, economic distribution, and the envisaged mobility innovations. Thus, the aim of the paper is to explore innovative initiatives to meet the envisioned mobility network through the Spatial Development Framework, 2040 and proposed corridors of Freedoms as mobility spines from a high-level perspective within the City of Johannesburg. A mixed-method approach was used which consisted of an exploratory research design that involves an empirical enquiry using spatial and qualitative methods of data. The results reveal that the City of Johannesburg has identified key public transport corridors, consolidating growth and development opportunities around existing and future public transport nodes. The location and concentration of jobs opportunities does not match that of where people live. This job-housing mismatch significantly contributes to inequality in the city as for many residents’ access to economic opportunities is stifled by costly and distant commuting. There are also two major spatial discontinuities in the city structure that are barriers to opportunity. In interpreting the current city structure morphology, the city displays a unique structure of inverted polycentricity, inherited largely form its complex history. In conclusion, the envisioned mobility networks of the city have the potential to link citizens to mixed-use development nodes with high density accommodation supported by office buildings, retail development and opportunities for education and recreation. This will give rise to a people-centred city, where communities’ needs, their safety, comfort, and economic well-being are placed at the core of planning and delivery processes.