The topic of integration and segregation across neighbourhoods in South Africa has been an ongoing discussion of late, with particular reference to hating on Cape Town for its really obvious apartheid influence – thanks to this guy who laid it all bare.

Well, looking at the 2011 census, things are shown in a slightly different light.

Check how each of South Africa’s largest cities sit on the segregation scale of 0 – 1:

Of course it’s pretty obvious that we have a long way to go, but we are now five years down the line and one wonders how – and if – things have changed.

Interestingly, a number of general characteristics occur in nearly all the maps:

• The central business districts (CBDs) have a high percentage of black African residents.
• The CBDs are surrounded by suburbs that have a high percentage of white residents.
• The high density townships – dominated by black African, coloured or Indian/Asian residents – are disconnected from the CBD.
• Racial mixing seems to be occurring mostly in previously white-dominated neighbourhoods.

However, each city still holds a unique pattern, something that obviously stems from various historical influences. Check the Census 2011 maps below:

Durban area

Johannesburg area

Cape Town area

Port Elizabeth area

[source: statssa]