Shamiso Hazel Mafuku

City Edge Dynamics and the Interface of Conflicting Income Groups: Focus on Main Way Meadows and St Johns Residents Shamiso Hazel Mafuku

The study by mainly looked at conflict that arises from the lack of conformity between housing settlements in the peri-urban zone and the neighbouring urban suburbs. It brought out the attitudes and perceptions of Mainway Meadows residents towards St Johns retreat and vice versa. This research also explained the processes leading to increase in population as well as the expansion of St Johns settlement. Many studies on peri-urban settlements have shown that they are characterised by informal and slum settlements as well as poverty and lack of basic services. This study brought out the fact that St Johns, a peri-urban settlement adjacent to Mainway Meadows, has no basic services such as water, sanitation, drainage as well as electricity, and that most people in this area are living in poverty. Concerning their livelihoods, this study, like many others proved that most people in the city edge, survive on labour based livelihood strategies as well as the informal income generating activities. It was also established that there is quite a lot of crime this area. It is because of these reasons that most Mainway Meadows residents have negative perceptions towards St Johns retreat.