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Table L15: A typology of social categories in the informal urban fringe surrounding
Durban (continued).
Category
5. Established peri-urban tenants
6. Displaced or urbanizing rural
families
7. Ex-hostel migrants
8. Workseekers from the rural areas:
sub-tenants
Description
Such a population group consists of people who
have almost by tradition lived in informal areas
(including many ex-Cato Manor residents who
refused to move to KwaMashu after the clearance
of Cato Manor in the 1960s). Some residents
shift from place to place depending on
circumstances, although they are permanent in
the general area. These residents have been
termed 'peri-urban mobiles'. The group as a
whole, comprises some 10 - 20% of the urban
fringe population
This group (5 - 10% of the total fringe
population), consists of younger families from
white farms as well as rural areas of KwaZulu, or
families displaced from (previous) resettlement
areas. These families are forced out by economic
pressures including landlessness, or a feeling of
marginality (with reference to the rural areas).
The families are probably permanent in peri-urban
areas, although they may wish to return to the
rural areas in the long term. Some of the group
form a sub-tenant class
The group forming 5 - 15% of the urban fringe
are mainly sub-tenants. The group consists of
migrant workers who find hostel life unattractive,
those. who wish to acquire a common law wifel
girlfriend, and those who wish to settle
permanently. (The latter category may bring their
rural families to live with them for long periods or
even permanently). The group erect shacks or
rent rooms on a sub-tenancy basis, usually in
crowded areas near transport routes. Members
of the group are often employed in the formal
sector. Not all members aspire to a permanent
urban lifestyle, although economic necessities
may dictate long periods of residence until
retirement. The latter sub-group accordingly, has
a tendency to seek shack accommodation as an
• interim' solution
The group is much the same as the above
category, comprising 5 - 10% of the urban fringe
population. The group includes many people from
Pondoland in the Transkei. Most of the group
survive on informal sector activities. Some
members are permanent, some are permanent
until retirement, while others are transient
.