Exploring informal settlements through the lens of human mobility. A case study of the city of Johannesburg, South Africa

Global South informal settlements have caught the attention of several scholars from various disciplines who have contributed to enhance the theoretical discussion around them. Furthermore, over the years, there has been a progression in the international debate on policies concerning informal settlements, promoting a more sustainable in-situ upgrading approach, instead of slum clearance initiatives; while some informal settlements' communities have received recognition and achieved some rights. Nevertheless, beyond still sporadic successes, the persistence of precarious living conditions in many informal settlements in the poorest corners of the world constantly solicits to deepen the knowledge of this urban phenomenon and question the role of urban policies and planning strategies in challenging inequalities.