A spatial analysis of access to public places of amusement by the youths in small rural towns: experiences from Thohoyandou Town, South Africa

Résumé

Many small rural towns of South Africa, such as Thohoyandou, lacked evenly distributed public places of amusement for the youths, thereby interfering with the Right to the City of the youths. This paper analysed the spatial distribution of public places of amusement for youths in Thohoyandou Town. A mixed-method approach collected data through observations and mapping. The Delphi Technique was used to interview three local municipality officials. Data was analysed using themes from the right to the city theory. The private and public places were categories of places of amusement. Youths from the suburban, urban periphery, and town villages travelled by bus or taxi to access public places of amusement in this town. However, the spatial distribution of public places of amusement exerted little influence on limiting the right to the city of youths because the town was spatially connected to its environs through an established road network. Access to public places of amusement in Thohoyandou Town was therefore not determined by the spatial distribution of these places, but rather by other accessibility factors such as the needs of the youths and affordability to pay entrance fees. Thulamela Local Municipality therefore needed to set aside special access rates for youths to access public places of amusement in Thohoyandou Town, as well as to avail a variety of these spaces because youths are special category of town users. This strategy could also be adopted by other local municipalities in small rural towns where youths are currently going through similar experiences.

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