Residential Segregation and Johannesburg’s ‘Locations in the Sky’

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Passed in 1955 as an amendment to the Natives (Urban Areas) Act, the ‘locations in the sky’ Bill was intended to close a loophole in urban race zoning practice. In terms of the Act, the number of Blacks living on rooftops in ‘White’ urban areas were to be restricted. Motives were mainly ideological, although the envisaged health and crime problems were also involved. In Johannesburg, where implementation of the Bill was finally responsible for the relocation of some 10 000 Blacks to incipient Soweto, the enabling Bill was opposed for its impracticality. Conflict between central government and the Johannesburg City council was resolved through financial pressure.