Page 98 - IJPS-11-6

International Journal of

Population Studies

RESEARCH ARTICLE
HopeScape: Redesigning public spaces for

women and girls in South African cities

Kiara Rampaul* and Hangwelani Hope Magidimisha-Chipingu
Department of Town and Regional Planning, Faculty of Built Environment and Development
Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract
Inclusive public spaces are essential for fostering community engagement, social
interaction, and equitable access, yet women and girls often encounter challenges
such as safety concerns and limited amenities that restrict their participation. This
study introduces the HopeScape model—a framework developed through a mixed-
methods approach that integrates insights from international case studies (Vienna
and Tunis) and local examples (Durban Beachfront, People’s Park, and the Watershed
at the V&A Waterfront). Key indicators, including accessibility, safety, identity, and
multifunctionality, were identified to help address these challenges. The findings
highlight significant gaps in South African public spaces, particularly regarding
safety and inclusivity for women and girls. By synthesizing global best practices with
local insights, the HopeScape model offers actionable strategies for creating safe,
*Corresponding author:
Kiara Rampaul accessible, and inclusive public spaces, contributing to equitable urban development.
(k.rampaul1811@gmail.com)
Citation: Rampaul, K. & Keywords: Inclusive public spaces; Women and girls; Urban planning; Safety and
Magidimisha-Chipingu, H.H. (2025). accessibility
HopeScape: Redesigning public
spaces for women and girls in
South African cities. International
Journal of Population Studies.
11(6): 92-115. 1. Introduction
https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.5813
Received: November 7, 2024 Public spaces are frequently upheld as vital arenas of democracy, social interaction, and
cultural expression—sites where people from different backgrounds come together to
1st revised: May 10, 2025
engage, move, rest, or protest (El-Bardisy, 2024). These spaces are integral to urban life,
2nd revised: May 24, 2025 not only as physical infrastructure but also as symbolic reflections of societal values
Accepted: June 23, 2025 and power dynamics. However, the lived realities of women and girls within public
spaces often contradict the rhetoric of inclusivity. Around the world, and particularly
Published online: August 6, 2025
in South Africa, women and girls face a range of obstacles that limit their ability to
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). safely and confidently access and occupy public spaces (Ralane, 2023). Harassment,
This is an Open-Access article surveillance, physical violence, and social exclusion form a continuum of threats that
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution render many public environments inaccessible or hostile to their participation (Turner
License, permitting distribution, & Swaine, 2023). As a result, their rights to the city—including mobility, visibility, and
and reproduction in any medium, belonging—are repeatedly curtailed.
provided the original work is
properly cited. In South African cities, these dynamics are intensified by the enduring spatial legacies
Publisher’s Note: AccScience of apartheid, which produced highly fragmented and unequal urban landscapes (Bénit-
Publishing remains neutral with Gbaffou & Todes, 2024; Harrison et al., 2023). Public spaces in affluent areas tend to be
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional well-resourced, landscaped, and maintained, whereas those in historically marginalized
affiliations. communities are underdeveloped, unsafe, or altogether absent (De Souza e Silva et al.,

Volume 11 Issue 6 (2025) 92 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.5813