Paper short abstract:

Many urban challenges are attributed to conflicting rationalities among spatial decision-makers and local communities. Therefore, this paper explores the rationalities regarding the quality of life guiding spatial decision-makers in comparison with poor and vulnerable communities in South Africa.

Paper long abstract:

Deep conflicts exist between governing authorities, markets and “ordinary citizens”. Each of these role-players often hold different interests and follow a different logic in their view of and vision towards a “good and happy” urban settlement. These conflicting rationalities are regarded as one of the key obstacles in overcoming the quality of life challenges faced by poor and vulnerable communities in South Africa. This paper, subsequently, explores the rationalities regarding the quality of life that guide spatial decision-makers in comparison with that of poor and vulnerable communities in South Africa. A storyline analysis was firstly employed to explore the underlining rationality, apropos to the quality of life, within South African directives guiding spatial decision-making. Secondly, a case study analysis was utilised to explore the rationality regarding the quality of life in 8 low-income communities in South Africa through semi-structured interviews. The data for both analyses were respectively reduced through deductive coding on ATLAS.ti. To consider the different, and possible conflicting, rationalities, the findings of the two analyses were juxtaposed. The research concluded that the conflict in rationality between spatial decision-makers and the South African poor mainly stem from a neglect in appreciating and making allowance for the sheer diversity of the South African urban landscape.