1,720,968 research outputs found
Are peri-urban land transactions a disaster in the making? A case of Domboshava, Zimbabwe
Full text linkPeri-urban communal areas close to bourgeoning cities in sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly under various disaster threats, from social, environmental and institutional perspectives, as a result of urbanisation and migration. Residents of these communal areas have taken land matters into their hands, which leads to diverse land transactions. This study aimed to emphasise risks and hazards arising from land transactions taking place in a peri-urban zone of Domboshava, Zimbabwe, situated close to Harare, the capital city. Land transactions in this area include land exchanges through buying, renting and, in some cases, land grabbing. Because land transactions are on the increase in Domboshava, risks and hazards could potentially develop in social, environmental and institutional terms. Appropriate planning techniques and principles are solely needed to avoid potential disasters
Disaster risk reduction strategies for informal settlements: A case of Hlophekane in Giyani, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Full text linkDeparment of Urban and Regional PlanningMURPThe frequency of natural disasters in informal settlements has been on the increase globally, Yet approximately 1 billion people still live in informal settlements world-wide. In South Africa, about 1.2 million people live in informal settlements characterised by inadequate infrastructure, lack of effective land use and spatial planning, high densities and are highly exposed to the risk of disasters. In general, there is a close link between informal settlements as spaces of habitation and exposure to disaster risks. Reflecting on disaster risk reduction strategies for informal settlements is therefore imperative particularly from an urban and regional planning perspective. Therefore, this work uses a case study of Hlophekane an informal settlement located in Greater Giyani Local Municipality under the Limpopo Province's Mopani District in South Africa to illustrate these concerns. The main purpose of this study is to develop disaster risk reduction strategies for Hlophekane Informal Settlement. The study sought to identify and characterize the nature of disasters in Hlophekane Informal Settlement. Data was collected from 90 households that live in Hlophekane Informal Settlement through a questionnaire survey and 3 key informant interviews were conducted. Furthermore, the study mapped disaster risk zones in Hlophekane Informal Settlement using GIS. Collected data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) making use of a thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Microsoft computer software packages and Geographical Information System (GIS) were used to map disaster hotspots zones. Data was presented through the use of tables, graphs, and maps. Qualitative data was analysed making use of a range of processes and procedures to generate explanations, understanding or interpretation of the experiences of people and situations in the disaster context. The study findings in disaster risk reduction strategies are expected to provide lessons for reducing disasters in the area from an urban and regional planning perspective. Disaster Risk Reduction strategies suitable for informal settlements such as Hlophekane must be sustainable, cost effective and involve the community. A combination of the multi-sectoral and multi-displinary approaches is one of the disaster risk reduction strategies that can be implemented. This strategy integrates different sectors, government departments, NGO’s and the affected communities. Out of this strategy, several projects were identified such as in situ upgrading, roll over upgrading and complete relocation. From those projects, in situ upgrading is the most suitable, convenient and cost-effective strategy that can be implemented.NR
Land Transactions and Rezoning Strategies in the Peri Urban Communal Area of Domboshava, Zimbabwe: Challenges and Pitfalls
Full text linkUrbanization in sub-Saharan Africa has led to the proliferation of peri-urban settlements close to cities. Residents who have local tribal as well as migrant backgrounds in these spaces often take land matters into their own hands leading to diverse land transactions. This paper is based on field research on Domboshava, a peri-urban communal area located 20km northeast of Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe. In this peri-urban communal area, land transactions are shifting from customary inheritance in the tribal line to individualized land transactions such as direct land sales and renting – prompting the local authority (Goromonzi Rural District Council) to propose rezoning as a solution to increased land transactions in in this peri-urban communal area. This strategy has however become part of the problem as land transactions proliferated ahead of the implementation of the rezoning strategy. Forty-one local residents, as well as a number of key informants such as Traditional Leaders and local government officials were sampled for the study. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through structured interviews, review of pertinent documents, as well as observation. I used Hirschman (1970)’s voice, exit, and loyalty model to reveal the reactions of community residents to the local authority’s rezoning strategy (as a solution to proliferation of land transactions), as well as to demonstrate the community residents’ criticism or disregard of, or compliance with this strategy. My findings reveal that when community residents find themselves stuck within planning strategies they perceive as dysfunctional, they react differently to their situation. Often, this compounds the problems. Appropriate planning strategies that address the challenges in Domboshava are sorely needed.
Acknowledgement: Since this paper is based on my PhD thesis, I would like to acknowledge the Graduate School at Stellenbosch University in South Africa for funding the research, and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) for funding my fieldwork
Spatial (in) justice and street spaces of selected small rural towns in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa
Full text linkPhDURPDepartment of Urban and Regional PlanningStreet spaces of small rural towns of Thohoyandou, Musina and Louis Trichardt in South Africa are characterised by spatial (in)justices as urban space is produced and reproduced every day through planning and design and management imperatives. In some cases, the spatial (in)justices are also inherited from the towns’ historical past and geographical location. These are perpetuated unwillingly over time to date. This study, therefore, seeks to interrogate the spatial (in)justices flowing from the streets themselves as distributors of (in)justices as street space users interact on street spaces in their everyday activities; and through processes of street planning, design and management. The study developed a framework of analysis that can be used by other researchers, planners and policy makers to redress spatial injustices on streets as important everyday spaces. The study employed a street space spatial justice case study survey design, which utilises the mixed methods approach. The primary data collection methods used include a street space design qualities inventory of forty-three street spaces in the towns' Central Business Districts; street intercept surveys with five hundred non-vehicular users; and structured interviews with eight spatial planners and city planning professionals knowledgeable about street design and management. Secondary data collection was done through reviewing literature sources from books, journals, municipal records, and internet sources. Analysis of data was done both qualitatively and quantitatively. Variables of safety, security, permeability, accessibility, legibility, robustness, and maintenance, and management were interrogated to measure spatial (in)justice on street spaces. The research findings show that thirty- six out of forty-three street spaces had low to least performing spatial justice qualities. Significant differences (p<0.05) exist between the different categories of users' perceptions of each spatial justice attribute, and also between users' satisfaction and expectations on street spaces. The local municipalities in the selected small rural towns provide packaged and controlled forms of justice which are often not context-specific. A significant output from this research is an improved street space spatial (in)justice analytical framework that can ensure spatial justice on street spaces of small rural towns. Multiple-lensed spatial (in)justice analyses and multi-stakeholder collaboration remain imperative for municipalities to ensure just street spaces.NR
Urban decay and regeneration strategies in small towns: a case study of Thohoyandou, South Africa
No full textMURPDepartment of Urban and Regional PlanningEvidence of urban decay in small South African towns has been increasingly discernible over the years. Undoubtedly, other small rural towns face a myriad of challenges attributable to historic apartheid planning. They are distressed and underperforming despite having urban regeneration strategies in place. Small towns are faced with high poverty, unemployment, and a lack of economic vitality and diversification, creating a high degree of stagnation and urban decay. This complexity has been exacerbated by the vulnerability to Covid-19 pandemic stress, adding new challenges affecting their liveability and vitality. This resulted in renewed interest in small towns’ regeneration by the South African government to foster the developmental role of small towns. This dissertation contributes to the debate on how to improve current regeneration strategies in small towns focusing on Thohoyandou Town Central Business District (CBD). This study's objectives were threefold: firstly, to characterise urban decay through mapping, secondly, to investigate the causes and thirdly, to recommend a framework for sustainable small town urban regeneration. This study adopted a case study research design, augmented by the mixed method research approach. The SW Maps mobile application was used to gather geospatial data on urban decay in Thohoyandou Town CBD. This was complemented by questionnaire data collected from 202 participants and 3 key informants’ interviews. The spatial data were analysed through ArcMap geospatial analysis tools to produce maps reflecting the spatial extent and intensity of urban decay in Thohoyandou Town CBD. The data attained from study participants were analysed through ATLAS. ti, Microsoft Excel, and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. The study findings are that empirically Thohoyandou Town CBD is grappling with urban decay. This is caused by several key blockages, including poor urban management and planning, poor service delivery, the Covid-19 pandemic, implementation challenges caused by political interference, lack of monitoring and evaluation system, lack of policy alignment, and poor governance and inadequate institutional capacity linked to staff shortages with appropriate expertise. The implications of these findings are that current strategies are limited and outdated. The current urban regeneration strategy needs to be revised to enhance policy alignment, considering other funding modalities and establishment of special public entities to implement the strategies. More importantly, successful regeneration of small towns requires resources, patience, and commitment. Therefore, a stronger political will, effective governance, public-private cooperation, and institutional capacity are required to enable small rural towns to remain viable and transform into viable, vibrant and liveable cities.NR
Urban decay and regeneration strategies in small towns : a case study of Thohoyandou , South Africa
No full textM.URPDepartment of Urban and Regional PlanningEvidence of urban decay in small South African towns has been increasingly discernible over the years. Undoubtedly, other small rural towns face a myriad of challenges attributable to historic apartheid planning. They are distressed and underperforming despite having urban regeneration strategies in place. Small towns are faced with high poverty, unemployment, and a lack of economic vitality and diversification, creating a high degree of stagnation and urban decay. This complexity has been exacerbated by the vulnerability to Covid-19 pandemic stress, adding new challenges affecting their liveability and vitality. This resulted in renewed interest in small towns’ regeneration by the South African government to foster the developmental role of small towns. This dissertation contributes to the debate on how to improve current regeneration strategies in small towns focusing on Thohoyandou Town Central Business District (CBD). This study's objectives were threefold: firstly, to characterise urban decay through mapping, secondly, to investigate the causes and thirdly, to recommend a framework for sustainable small town urban regeneration. This study adopted a case study research design, augmented by the mixed method research approach. The SW Maps mobile application was used to gather geospatial data on urban decay in Thohoyandou Town CBD. This was complemented by questionnaire data collected from 202 participants and 3 key informants’ interviews. The spatial data were analysed through ArcMap geospatial analysis tools to produce maps reflecting the spatial extent and intensity of urban decay in Thohoyandou Town CBD. The data attained from study participants were analysed through ATLAS. ti, Microsoft Excel, and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. The study findings are that empirically Thohoyandou Town CBD is grappling with urban decay. This is caused by several key blockages, including poor urban management and planning, poor service delivery, the Covid-19 pandemic, implementation challenges caused by political interference, lack of monitoring and evaluation system, lack of policy alignment, and poor governance and inadequate institutional capacity linked to staff shortages with appropriate expertise. The implications of these findings are that current strategies are limited and outdated. The current urban regeneration strategy needs to be revised to enhance policy alignment, considering other funding modalities and establishment of special public entities to implement the strategies. More importantly, successful regeneration of small towns requires resources, patience, and commitment. Therefore, a stronger political will, effective governance, public-private cooperation, and institutional capacity are required to enable small rural towns to remain viable and transform into viable, vibrant and liveable cities.National Research Foundation (NRF
Implementation constraints of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements: A case of Mopani District, South Africa
No full textPhDURPDepartment of Urban and Regional PlanningThe implementation of spatial planning tools to influence the distribution of people and activities on different scales and locations worldwide is often hindered by several constraints. Despite the constraints, and as the world is incessantly exposed to disaster risks, spatial planning tools remain cardinal to reducing disaster risks, particularly in informal settlements since they seek to promote effective planning for safe environments. It is therefore imperative that structured and decisive implementation of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements is an action, and urgent priority focus area. The problem is that Mopani District lacks an integrated implementation spatial planning framework for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements. Consequently, this study aimed to assess the implementation constraints of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements in Mopani District, South Africa. The objectives of the study were to (i) analyse the nature of disaster risks in informal settlements; (ii) examine spatial planning drivers of disaster risks in informal settlements; (iii) analyse the constraints of implementing spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction and (iv) propose a spatial planning framework for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements in Mopani District. A pragmatic paradigm philosophical approach, supplemented by a mixed research approach and a case study strategy, underpinned the study methodology. The sample size of the study consisted of 608 household respondents and 87 experts. The sampling procedures adopted in this study included multistage, purposive convenience sampling and stratified proportionate sampling methods that resulted in proportional household distribution of the sample in the 15 informal settlements in the following Municipalities: Greater Giyani (117 household respondents), Greater Tzaneen (58 household respondents) and Ba-Phalaborwa (433 household respondents) and 87 experts from the municipalities and other related government sectors as key informants. The primary data sources for the study included spatial planning disaster risk reduction and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) pairwise questionnaires, key experts, and telephone interviews, mapping, and observations. Secondary data sources included institutional documents, textbooks, library databases and internet. Quantitative data analysis was aided by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for descriptive statistics and vulnerability analysis to determine the nature and level of disaster risks. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Multinomial Logit Regression (MLR) were employed to determine spatial planning disaster risk drivers. The use of Expert choice and Microsoft Excel software were applied in the SWOT-TOWS Analytical Hierarchical Process to determine the constraints of implementing spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements and generated strategies that guided the development of an integrated framework for implementation of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic data analysis guided by deductive and semantic approaches within the range of the critical spatial planning and disaster risk theoretical framework. Besides, Lefebvre, vulnerability, resilience, and systems theories were used to holistically envision informal settlements as interactive elements to inform the development of an integrated implementation spatial planning framework. The findings of the study provide the following contributions to knowledge on implementation constraints of spatial planning tools in informal settlements: (i). Maps showing the nature of disaster risks in informal settlements in extremely high hazard areas, (ii). Spatial planning disaster risk drivers in informal settlements in Mopani District, (iii). A SWOT- TOWS AHP analysis depicting the constraints and strategies of implementing spatial planning tools in informal settlements in Mopani District, (iv). An integrated framework for implementation of spatial planning tools in informal settlements in Mopani District, South Africa.NR
The potential of rural growth centers in fostering local economic development : case study of Makhado Biaba
Full text linkAbstract: A growth service center has the potential for further development. Consequently, such a center needs to be supported by both public and private sector investment because it provides goods and services to the people thus creating a balanced socio-economic development of an area. Governments have long been trying to promote the approach of rural growth center strategies in an attempt to attract investment and sustainable local economic development. There have been growth centers world over, and while some have been developing, others have not been performing well. Most centers designated for growth do not have the requisite potential or strong human resource base from which to ignite the processes of increasing action and subsequent growth. Limpopo and other rural provinces in South Africa have engaged in Rural growth centers and Local Economic Development initiatives for nearly a decade. Very few however have assessed the impact of Rural Growth Centers and Local Economic Development (LED) on improving the livelihoods of citizens. Consequently, this study examines the potential of Rural growth centers in fostering sustainable Local Economic Development in Makhado Biaba, and the extent to which it has contributed towards improving the livelihoods of communities. This work adopted a case study research design and a qualitative and quantitative research approach. Data were collected through Questionnaires (completed by households from Makhado Biaba, Tshirolwe and Tshituni, and business owners). Structured in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants from Makhado Local Municipality (town planners and LED officials). Data was also obtained from observations, map surveys and photographic surveys of the growth center. The results reveal that policy doesn’t automatically lead to successful implementation, but amended skills levels are needed, and funding shortages need to be resolved. Makhado Local Municipality furthermore does not have adequate economic strategies in place to address the issues of poverty and unemployment. The study concludes by recommending that rural municipalities (Makhado Local Municipality) have to generate their own policies and frameworks that are different from those used in metropolitan municipalities. That is because a single strategy does not work when it comes to creating and implementing growth centers. Lastly a conceptual growth center development framework is proposed for Makhado Biaba growth center.M.A. (Sustainable Urban Planning and Development
Investigating curriculum transformation pathways in technological planning schools : learning from conventional planning programmes and beyond
Full text linkAbstract: The South African higher education terrain has undergone massive transformation through curriculum transformation involving programme alignment. There are three technical town planning schools out of the eleven town planning schools in South Africa and these were the hardest hit by the curriculum changes. These technical planning schools phased out technical programmes, and introduced bachelor and honours degrees. This paper investigates the possible pathways of curriculum transformation for technical planning schools critical to the retention of practical skills training within the new programmes. The paper adopted a phenomenological case study research design and applied the qualitative research approach. Content analyses were used to derive meaning from the collected data. Preliminary findings reveal three possible pathways that could be adopted by the technical planning schools to ensure that new curriculated degrees produce graduates with practical town planning skills. The new degree programmes that replaced technical programmes need to place graduates and universities at par with conventional universities in terms of recognition and quality. Pursuit to that, the paper recommends the infusion of the uniqueness of the phased technical programmes in the new degree programmes to deliver competitive, marketable qualifications that are preferred by students and valued by industry
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