A Legal Perspective on Sustainable Development and Urban Poverty in South Africa SC KNOX-MOSDELL PER / PELJ 2022 (25)

Abstract

The doctrine of sustainable development has its origins in the realm of international environmental law. This article considers its potential usefulness for the purposes of alleviating urban poverty in South Africa. Urban poverty is an endemic and persistent phenomenon in South African cities, which lack economic and social integration. In the realm of international sustainable development discourse, it has come to be acknowledged in more recent years that sustainable development is intertwined with issues of poverty. South African legislation and case law acknowledge sustainable development but do not consider its possible usefulness as an underpinning doctrine for urban poverty alleviation. The potential of the doctrine for this purpose has been justifiably questioned on several grounds. However, it is possible to conceptualise ways in which it can be deployed as a theoretical basis for initiatives towards such alleviation. It is argued in this article that all three branches of government in South Africa should play a role in achieving this.