POVERTY & INEQUALITY IN AFRICAN CITIES, reflections on challenges and causes

412pp., maps, illus., paperback, The State of Africa Series, Volume 1, Africa Institute of South Africa, Pretoria, 2025

ISBN: 9780798305419

This collection of essays investigates the challenges faced by people moving from rural areas to cities seeking stable employment and better opportunities, and how haphazard urban planning, characterised by overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited access to necessities such as water and electricity, contributes to high levels of poverty and social exclusion. They also offer inclusive and sustainable policy solutions.

"A sharp and timely examination of one of Africa's defining challenges - rapid urbanisation, Insightful, grounded, and essential reading for anyone concerned with the politics and realities of urban development on the continent." Richard Obinna Iroanya, School of Military Science, University of Namibia

Contributions include:

"Investigating Multidimensional Well-Being among the Homeless: A Cape Town metropolitan perspective" by Theodore Sass

"Double Pandemic: Effect of Covid-19 on urban poverty in South Africa" by Zintle Ntshongwana, Busisiwe Nkala-Dlamini, Hlologelo Malatji and Nkosiyazi Dube

"The Rural-Urban Migration Enigma in South Africa: Key trends and issues" by Daniel N. Mlambo

"Legislative Framework Addressing the Nexus of Poverty and Inequality in South African Urban Centres" by Refiloe Moratuoa Mohlakoana

"The Paradox of Prosperity: Understanding hybrid cities in Africa’s urban poverty and inequality: A comparative analysis of Nigeria and South Africa" by Oluwole Kazeem Sanni.

Dr Nicasius Achu Check is Chief Research Specialist at the Africa Institute of South Africa, Human Sciences Research Council. He is a steering committee member of the African Peer Review Mechanism’s School of Governance, a member of the Board of the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Botswana, a board member of Riara University’s International Relations Department at Nairobi, Kenya and a board member of the School of International Relations and Public Policy, United States International University, Nairobi, Kenya.

Professor Adebayo O. Olukoshi is Distinguished Professor at the Wits School of Governance. He has previously served as a Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Research Programme Coordinator at the Nordic Africa Institute, and Senior Programme Staff at the inter-governmental South Centre. Currently he holds an Honorary Professorship at the University of Edinburgh, an Honorary Research Associateship at the Nordic Africa Institute, and an Honorary Senior Fellowship at the Centre for Democracy and Development.