M.A. (Economics) / The purpose of this study was to determine whether the developmental experience pertaining to urbanization in Malaysia and South Korea is applicable to South Africa. Urbanization, urbanization policy and the consequences of urbanization in South Africa are investigated. Urbanization in Malaysia and South Korea, with specific reference to Seoul, is investigated after which the developmental experience in relation to urbanization of these countries is applied to South Africa. Research was also done to determine to what extent urbanization is addressed by the Reconstruction and Development Prograrrune and the White Paper on Reconstruction and Development. From the study, the conclusion can be drawn that from the developmental experience regarding urbanization in Malaysia and South Korea, definite lessons can be learned and solutions found on how to accommodate urbanization in South Africa. The developmental experience regarding urbanization in Malaysia and South Korea has shown that the unequal structuring of the community and economy of Malaysia had given rise to conflict and competition between racial groups which had been counteracted by urbanization. Urbanization in Malaysia was accompanied by industrialization and the upliftment of the rural areas couldn't retard urbanization. Urbanization occurred with continuous economical growth and the New Economic Policy of Malaysia played an important role in the restructuring of the community and the economy of the country. The government played a constructive role in urbanization in Malaysia and followed a non-spatial goal in its strategy for urbanization and industrial settlement. Land ownership complicated urbanization in Malaysia. An enabling process was followed to make ethnic Malaysians part of the urban economy. This led to a negative feeling towards the New Economic Policy amongst the non-Malaysians. Urbanization was very successfully managed in South Korea, with a land redistribution process that accommodated urbanization and established participatory urban service systems. The applicability of the developmental experience regarding urbanization in Malaysia and South Korea on South Africa is vested in the fact that South Africa also has an unequally structured community and economy that has to be restructured and transformed by means of urbanization. The industrial settlement policy of South Africa will have to be adapted to accommodate urbanization. Ethnic polarization must be prevented in the development of the rural areas.

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