Reparative Practices in Unjust Cities: Contextual Maintenance and Social Cohesion in Denver (Johannesburg)

Abstract

In exploring the nuances of urban development in African contexts, this paper delves into the complexity of city-making processes that often contradict conventional 'northern' methodologies, specifically through the lens of Denver—a locality that defies clear categorization by embodying characteristics of an informal settlement, occupied building, and rural governance. Denver's residents showcase adaptive strategies for social and physical sustenance, providing valuable insights into alternative models of urban maintenance and infrastructure management. These practices offer lessons in affordability, social cohesion, and risk management for marginalized urban populations, challenging the effectiveness of top-down urban upgrading projects that frequently overlook existing social structures and impose incongruent solutions. This paper critiques the prevalent disregard for the foundational values sustaining informal settlements, arguing for a re-evaluation of 'best global' practices by local governments in urban upgrading. Highlighting the ethical imperative in social work and research, it underscores the evolution of ethical standards from historical precedents to current frameworks emphasizing beneficence, justice, and respect. This discussion extends to the philosophical realms, where Judith Butler and Michel Foucault's explorations into ethical self-determination and reflexivity present frameworks for understanding the individual within societal norms. The paper advocates for a co-production ethos in urban practice, drawing on 1to1's Codes of Engagement to illustrate principles of humane interaction, participation, and design within community settings. By challenging the binary imposition of global ethical standards and advocating for contextually informed, relational ethics, this study calls for a nuanced approach to urban inequality research. Through a reflective journey, it interrogates the embedded biases within urban spatial practices—highlighting the tacit anti-poor, anti-foreign, and anti-informality sentiments that shape urban policy and spatial planning in South Africa and beyond. Addressing the cognitive dissonance between perceived and lived urban realities, this analysis utilizes Edward Said's concept of 'imaginative geographies' to explore the constructed narratives that influence urban perception and policy. The paper concludes with a call for a methodological shift towards iterative, reflexive urban praxis—rooted in localized, feminist-inspired frameworks—that embraces the complexities of urban life, fosters inclusivity, and integrates diverse ethical considerations into the fabric of urban development and research.