To ensure equitable development in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, unravelling and understanding the role that physical space and spatial structures play in economic growth is of cardinal importance. In this regard, although ham-strung by the lack of readily packaged spatial economic growth and development data, a recent CSIR scoping study presents a first -cut spatial development perspective on southern Africa. Keywords: Spatial development perspective, Economic growth, Human settlements, Southern African Development Community, SADC, Spatial planning.