Public spaces have played a huge role in the spatial transformation of South African cities over the past decades. On the other hand, gated communities have emerged due to the increase in the level of crime in cities in general, including those in South Africa. Their growth has been largely motivated by people’s longing for safety and security, especially when in public spaces. This paper investigates the characteristics and functions of public spaces in gated communities, learning from the Irene Farm Villages Estate gated community. A mixed-method research design is adopted for this paper, which implies the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods to gather information. This is an explanatory and descriptive research study, as it provides documentary information on how the concept of public space has been applied to the Irene Farm Villages Estate gated community. The results of this study reveal that further research is imperative to gain more users’ perceptions regarding public spaces in gated communities. This paper recommends that there be more research conducted, specifically by the local government agencies, to enable a review of the long-term implications of gated communities, particularly on the integrated development aspect.

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Ms. Silindile Zulu