Die klein dorp in verval

Abstract

The decline of the small town in the South African countryside has reached a critical stage. This is reflected in the shrinking White population figures and is detrimental to the internal structure and functioning of these towns as far as services, facilities, the basis of their economies and their socio-economic population composition are concerned. This situation is the cumulative result of an obsolete reason for the existence of some towns in a changed technological milieu, the migration of the population from the countryside to the cities, and the incompetent state of some towns. Although an instant solution is not available, several approaches to this complex problem are possible. Different levels of towns could be identified before taking differentiated remedial action. It is also possible to follow up the slight signs of revival in non-metropolitan areas by using extensive development aid to guide main and subsidiary towns into vital regional centres. It should, however, be taken into account that not all towns will advance this process - some will inevitably be subjected to progressive decline in order to save the region as a whole.