Showing papers in "Stads- en Streeksbeplanning in 2013"

Public participation in town–planning applications: Tlokwe local municipality as a case study

Abstract: Although public participation is deemed important in South Africa, negative perceptions of its legitimacy are widely acknowledged. Inclusive town-planning processes, as instruments to address inequality, have a significant role in enhancing democracy. This article reports on a study done from a communicative planning perspective, with the aim to investigate the influence of public participation in town planning by means of an analysis of town-planning application procedures between 1992-2008 in the Tlokwe Local Municipality, North-West province, South Africa. The results indicate that only 6% of all commentary on planning applications consists of objections from the public. Technically motivated objections and town-planning firms had the most influence on planning outcomes. This seems to indicate reactive and consultative participation wherein the final decision resides with the local authority. It appears that public participation’s idealistic ‘feel good’ mask does not live up to the expectations of an empowered civil society.

The reshaping of urban structure in South Africa through municipal capital investment: Evidence from three municipalities

Abstract: Although Spatial Development Frameworks are regarded as the key spatial restructuring tool of local municipalities, the investment of public resources through the municipal capital budget is of equal importance Public-sector capital investment plays a key role in the reorientation of spatial priorities by guiding private investment and restructuring historically inefficient spaces The alignment of spatial development strategies and municipal capital budgets provide a potentially effective restructuring mechanism for local municipalities This article analyses the degree of alignment of these instruments through the case-study investigation of three local municipalities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Rustenburg The findings indicate that spatial development frameworks significantly influence budgetary capital spending patterns and address growth management and connectivity However significant resources were committed in marginalised fragmented settlements, a trend that reinforced spatial inefficiencies

National planning in South Africa : a temporal perspective

Abstract: This article aims to provide a temporal and critical perspective on national spatial planning since the 1970s until the most recent directive in 2012. From the first spatial policy initiative, the National Physical Development Plan (1975), radical changes have occurred in the various approaches to national planning. The most recent spatial planning directive in South Africa is the National Development Plan (2012), which has a diversified approach with political, social and economic goals. In the past four decades, national planning policy and directives have moved through balanced and unbalanced regional growth approaches. The top-down approach of the 1970s with rigid area-specific directives transformed into a bottom-up more adaptable, socially oriented and interpretation-based approach in recent years. In the process, South Africa’s spatial policy has evolved from a policy dominated by political objectives in the 1960s to a multi-sectoral policy which purports to be based only on economic principles of a multi-sectoral free-market system; from one of strong government intervention to one of minor intervention. The general perception of this article is that only some of these policies are substantially attributed to effective socio-economic development due to the lack of spatially focused initiatives.

Economic and demographic trends of municipalities in South Africa: An application of Zipf’s rule

Abstract: There are vast differences among South African local municipalities, with a limited number of large municipalities (both in terms of population size and economic activity) and a seemingly disproportionate number of intermediate-sized and small municipalities. No clear systematic national approach has yet been adopted to assess the distribution of core variables at municipal level in South Africa. Zipf’s rule, which postulates a consistentregularity in the size and rank of cities, is applied to disaggregate the performance of South African local municipalities in terms of three variables (population, Gross Value Added and municipal income) within the overall national settlement pattern. The results indicate that the Zipf rank size rule distribution is applicable to municipal level population data in South Africa, but less so for Gross Value Added and municipal income. The position and relative changes of municipalities along the Zipf curve between 2001 and 2011 also provide plausible indications of potential future trajectories of the three variables classified according to the dominant settlement typology within each municipality. The results also emphasise the significant conceptual limitations when using only legally defined administrative municipal boundaries for analysis purposes withoutalso considering economically functional boundaries.

Cape Town’s central city development: a strategy of partnership and inclusion

Abstract: The legacy of South Africa’s past continues to upset the country’s drive towards inclusive and democratised spaces. This is particularly true in Cape Town, perhaps more so than in any other city in the country, where the spatial divides of colonialism and apartheid contribute to a most unequal and segregated geospatial existence. In order to address this urban challenge, the Cape Town Partnership developed the Central City Development Strategy (CCDS), a ten-year plan that calls for the densification of the central city to re-plan Cape Town into a more liveable, inclusive, democratic, and sustainable urban space. By critically examining the role that inclusionary housing policies, public transportation, and increased economic opportunities play in a more sustainable form of urban development, this article emphasises the need to expand the way in which planners approach urban design to take on a more holistic and partnership-based approach.

Socio-economic performance of municipalities along the Maputo Development Corridor (MDC): Implications for the National Development Plan (NDP) of 2011

Abstract: The economic successes of the Maputo Development Corridor (MDC) project demonstrate that corridor development can provide solutions to economic development in landlocked African countries. However, the National Development Plan (NDP) (2011) cites a lack of employment opportunities and under-maintained infrastructure among the inhibitors of economic development, including the area within the MDC, where infrastructure maintenance has, in fact, been praised. This article aims to establish the socio-economic performance of the MDC region between 1996 and 2011, by comparing it to Mpumalanga and the other provinces, and comparing the socioeconomic performance of the six MDC municipalities with each other. Results indicate that the socio-economic performance of the MDC region is consistently better than Mpumalanga and, in certain cases, the region even outperforms the other provinces, thus demonstrating the success of the MDC project. Furthermore, the municipalities that showed stronger economic potential in 1996 (Emalahleni, Steve Tshwete and Mbombela) continued to prosper in 2011 at the expense of the poorer municipalities (Nkomazi, Victor Khayne and Emakhazeni). Policy implications for the NDP (2011) are discussed.

The relationship between settlement type and undercount in the South African census of 2011 : research article

Abstract: Holding a population and housing census is both a momentous undertaking and a costly challenge for any government. It requires vast planning and organising, but the results are vital for constructive planning. The aim of a census is to collect, process and disseminate detailed statistics on population size, composition and distribution at small-area level. As an undercount could affect the trust and use of census data, a major challenge in any census is dealing with the effects of an undercount. This article investigates some of the causes of the undercount in the South African National census of 2011, and how these causes vary across different geographic areas. The aim of the investigation is to determine the relationship between settlement type and the undercount in the 2011-census with the intention of laying the groundwork for lower undercounts in future censuses and survey implementation strategies. The key objectives of this article are to determine whether geographic location affects the census undercount and to understand how results based on geographic location are distributed spatially across the country. Die verwantskap tussen nedersettingstipologie en die ondertelling van die Suid-Afrikaanse sensus van 2011 Die hou van 'n bevolking- en behuisingsensus is beide 'n belangrike onderneming en 'n duur uitdaging vir enige regering. Dit vereis groot beplanning en organisering, maar die resultate is noodsaaklik vir konstruktiewe beplanning. Die doel van 'n sensus is om gedetailleerde statistiek oor die bevolkinggrootte, -samestelling en -verspreiding oor 'n klein gebied te versamel, te verwerk en te versprei. 'n Groot uitdaging in enige sensus is die hantering van die gevolge van 'n ondertelling omdat 'n ondertelling die vertroue in en die gebruik van sensusdata kan beinvloed. Hierdie artikel ondersoek sommige van die oorsake van die ondertelling in die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale sensus van 2011, en hoe hierdie oorsake varieer tussen verskillende geografiese gebiede. Die doel van die ondersoek is om die verhouding tussen die nedersettingstipe en die ondertelling in die 2011-sensus vas te stel met die bedoeling om 'n grondslag te bepaal vir laer ondertellings in toekomstige sensusse en opname implementeringstrategiee. Die belangrikste doelwitte van hierdie artikel is om te bepaal of geografiese ligging die sensusondertelling beinvloed, en om te verstaan hoe die resultate gebaseer op geografiese ligging ruimtelik versprei word oor die hele land. Kamahano mmoho ea mefuta ea bolulo le ho se bale ka ho lekana palong ea sechaba, Afrika Borwa, selemong sa 2011 Ho tsamaisa palo ea sechaba le ea mehaho eo batho ba phelang ho oona, ke ntho e kholohadi ebile e ja chelete e ngata ho 'muso o mong le o mong. Ke ntho e hlokang ditukiso tse tebileng fela qetellong sephetho sa teng ke se mererong e hlophisitsoeng. Sepheo sa palo ea sechaba ke ho akaralletsa, ho sebebetsana le ho tlaleha dipalopalo tse phethahetseng tsa batho ka hara naha, le hore na batho ba bokellane ka mokhoa oo joang libakeng tse nyane ka hara naha. Ka ha ho se bale ka ho lekana ho ka ama ho sebelisa dipalopalo tsa sechaba ka bots'epehi, bothata ba ho ho se bale ka ho lekana bo tlameha ho qojoa mme se batleloe pheko ea mathata ao e se bakang ha e se e etsahetse. Serapa sena se shebisisa ditlamorao tsa ho se bale ka ho lekana palong ea sechaba, Afrika Borwa, selemong sa 2011, le hore na ditlamorao tsena di fapana joang di karolong ka ho fapana tsa naha. Sepheo sa chebisiso ena e ne e le ho bona kamahano ea mefuta ea bolulo le ho se bale ka ho lekana palong ea sechaba ea selemo sa 2011, ka morero oa ho beha dinomoro tsa ho se bale ka ho lekana tlase le mekhoa ea ho fumana mohlodi oa pokello hore palo tsa sechaba tsa bokamoso di tle di phethahale hantle. Dipheo tse bohlokoa tsa serapa sena e ne e le (i) ho bona hore na ho se bale ka ho lekana ho amme libaka tsa naha ka ho fapana; le (ii) ho utloisisa hore na diphetho tsa naha di ka hara naha joang.

Participatory development planning in Botswana : exploring the utilisation of spaces for participation : scientific article

Abstract: The article examines the utilisation of spaces for participation in the development planning processes in Botswana. It has often been argued that, contrary to the widespread espousal to participatory planning, Botswana's planning system remains non-participatory. What is perceived as a highly centralised planning system dominated by bureaucrats has often been cited as the greatest impediment to the country's participatory governance. Despite the above perception, the article demonstrates the fluidity of spaces for participation and how, with creativity, invited spaces for participation have been used to challenge unpopular state policies and practices. Deelnemende ontwikkelingsbeplanning in Botswana : verken die benutting van ruimtes vir deelname Die artikel ondersoek die benutting van ruimtes vir deelname in die ontwikkelingsbeplanningprosesse in Botswana. Dit is al dikwels aangevoer dat, in teenstelling met die wydverspreide verkondiging vir deelnemende beplanning, bly Botswana se beplanningstelsel nie-deelnemend. Wat beskou word as 'n hoogs gesentraliseerde beplanningstelsel, oorheers deur burokrate, is dikwels ook beskou as die grootste struikelblok vir die land se deelnemende regering. Ten spyte van die bogenoemde persepsie, demonstreer die artikel die vloeibaarheid van ruimtes vir deelname en hoe daar met kreatiwiteit, genooide ruimtes vir deelname gebruik is om ongewilde staatsbeleid en praktyke uit te daag. Merero ya tswelopele e kenyeletsang sechaba naheng ya Botswana : ho shebisa mekhoa e sebaka se ka sebedisoang ho na ne kenyelletso ya sechaba Serapa sena se shebisisa tsebediso ya sebaka sa kenyeletso ya sechaba tabeng ya merero ya tswelopele ya Botswana. Ho bile le di chebisiso tse ngata tse bontshang hore le ha ho kenyeletsa sechaba mererong ya dibaka e se e le ntho e tloaelehileng ebile e se e tsebahala, naha ya Botswana yona, ha e sebetse tjena mererong ya bona. Ho bonahala e le tsamaiso ya merero e ikoalletseng ka hare, e tsamaisoa ke baithuti fela. Ebile e boledisoa ke ba bangata hore ke ona motsamaiso ona oo kenang tseleng ya puso e kenyeletsang sechaba mererong ya sona. Ntle le taba ena e boletsoeng, serapa sena se bontsha tsamaiso e monate ya sebaka sa kenyeletso ya sechaba le ka mokho ho bula kellelo ho lumelletseng sebaka sa kenyeletso ya sechaba hore se hanahanane le ditsamaiso le dipheo tsa mmuso tse sa utloahaleng.

Deprivation among unemployed South African youth : intergenerational or transitional?

Abstract: The troika of poverty, unemployment and inequality are hallmarks of the South African socio-economic landscape. With approximately one out of every four young people between the ages of 15 and 35 being employed, unemployment is a fact of life experienced by the majority of South African youth. This study sets out to explore this phenomenon, particularly whether the factors giving rise to youth unemployment are transitory or intergenerational in nature. The study is based on a sample of 3.236 unemployed youths originating from four provinces together with data extracted from a dedicated poverty survey conducted by Statistics South Africa from 2008 to 2009. Instead of focusing on the rather narrow income-poverty viewpoint, the study follows a multidimensional approach, using a range of social and material deprivati on indicators to measure poverty. Results show that only transitory factors are significant in explaining the prevalence of deprivation among unemployed youths, suggesting that their poverty is temporary in nature. Of particular significance is the fact that provinces with quite disparate conventional poverty profiles displayed rather similar results in their range of material and social deprivations. In addition, the more prosperous provinces such as Gauteng performed worse than poorer provinces such as Limpopo and Eastern Cape. This research contributes to the National Development Plan vision for 2030, which recognises the issues of social security and supports an understanding of a minimum level of social protection. Among the study’s many recommendations is that certain components of the survey instruments be improved, that the role of households in mitigating against the ravages of poverty among the young be appreciated, and that state intervention to alleviate youth poverty be emphasised.