Diversifying Inclusivity Through the Night Economy: An Observation from the Terraces of Durban and Cape Town

Abstract

Since the advent of democracy in 1994, the bid to bridge inequality in the country saw the government’s endless investment into the urban economy’s infrastructure and space. However, relentless challenges which South African cities are experiencing require thinking in other terms in order to close the economic divide. Growing and strengthening urban economies is a process not an event—as such, it requires experimenting with innovative possibilities that can drive and bring change. In this regard, growing urban economies through creating sleepless cities can be one of those possibilities that could bring such much needed change in the urban economy. Sleepless cities are envisaged as cities whose economic activities operate for 24 h—thus allowing productivity throughout the day and the night. This approach rests on the notion that a fully operative 24-h city utilizes available spaces, infrastructures, manpower and technology to enhance productivity. This in turn elevates the city to a more competitive position as opposed to current trends where they remain idle without any productive activity at night. It is from this perspective that this paper aims to explore the extent to which cities can be transformed into creating sleepless economies. In order to achieve this aim, a comparative study was under taken on two South African cities of Durban and Cape Town. The focus was on specific areas where night activities normally operate. Hence both secondary and primary data were used to provide information for this research. Secondary data sources were mostly used to conceptualize and review the literature on 24-h cities around the world. Primary data, which are key to the South African context, were collected from specific areas where night activities are practised. Common research tools such as observation, mapping and interviews with both key informants and workers were used during fieldwork. Some preliminary findings based on data collected show that there is overwhelming evidence to suggest that some pockets of the city are very active during the night. These pockets include traditional night activities such as health facilities and some industrial activities as well as new entrants in the form of restaurants. This emerging evidence also seems to suggest that these restaurants are on the increase and are largely supported by sound infrastructure in the form of electricity and other innovative interventions such as public transport through Uber. Despite negativities that surround some of these activities, it can be argued that although these night activities cannot turn around the fortunes of cities over night, their presence and gradual growth are all pointers to the significant role they can play in contributing to the growth of urban economies in the long run.