Project R-13924

Deliberating the demise of cultural heritage in small towns and villages in South Africa and Belgium (Research)

The limited gentrification scholarship in South Africa largely focuses on issues of displacement and change in social and urban character of neighbourhoods. The country is however far behind in terms of policy and regulations to manage and/or control gentrification. Development‐led gentrification poses the risk for traditional villages as well as historic small towns to completely lose their tangible and intangible heritage in the near future. In the absence of examples of managing gentrification through bylaws, legislation and policy in South Africa this project will draw on experience from Belgium and make suggestions for the respective case study municipalities on how they can manage gentrification to the benefit of conserving cultural heritage.

01 March 2023 - 28 February 2026