Spatial Integration in Residential Suburbs of East London, South Africa (1993–2008)

Abstract

This paper analyses residential property transfer data (1993–2008) to examine integration in selected suburbs in East London, South Africa. The results show that a greater proportion (74%) of Black residential property transfers took place in relatively cheaper residential suburbs while 65.2% of white buyers bought in more expensive suburbs. Using the chi-square test of association, the paper tests the hypothesis that race was related to the pattern of residential property transfers. The paper concludes that the nature of residential property purchases underscores the link between class and spatial integration in former white residential suburbs.