“Urban transformation is a critical part of any well-functioning city. The ability to modify and improve existing infrastructure, opportunities, facilities, etc. is essential to stay competitive in a global world. It is also necessary to adapt to the changing needs of the residents of cities. This report will, however, focus on the link between political transition, crime and urban transformation, especially spatial transformation. It will attempt to understand the link between these issues through a comparison between South Africa and Brazil. The approach of the study is to compare these issues by reviewing the Brazilian situation (bearing in mind that Brazil has been a democracy longer than South Africa has) and to draw some lessons for the urban future of South Africa, with regard to policy-formation, government decision-making and urban development in general.”
