The thesis is concerned with the rural-urban interface. It questions and argues against the validity of what used to be called the rural-urban divide, and presents the rural-urban interface as a single social field. The research makes use of Daggafontein informal settlement in Gauteng, providing a general socio-economic overview of this settlement by discussing the ways in which people in this settlement make a living. Most of the people come from rural areas and the patterns of their association within the settlement reveal that they associate themselves with people from their own rural homes of origin. Movement between Daggafontein and rural areas show some level of commitment to home areas. Perceptions of the urban-rural interface by people of Daggafontein informal settlement show that these two areas are not necessarily separate from each other, but are part of the same continuum as socio-economic relations continue to straddle the rural and the urban. As people, perceptions and values move in both directions along the rural-urban interface, the classification of the informal settlement becomes highly ambiguous, because it contains both rural and urban elements.

MURP / Department of Urban and Regional Planning / University towns or town gown relationships are increasingly becoming an accepted developmental narrative between institutions of higher learning and their host communities. The University of Venda was mandated by the Honourable Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr. Blade Nzimande, in October 2014, to devise a university town strategy aimed at developing Thohoyandou and its rural environs to become a university town. The University of Venda in its approach towards the development of a university town has adopted the new governance approach of formulating innovative collaborative partnerships with its surrounding stakeholders that include Limpopo Premier’s Office, Vhembe District Municipality, Thulamela Local Municipality, VBS Mutual Bank, Madzivhandila Agricultural College and Traditional leaders. The study approach adopted quantitative research method. Its centre piece was the Optimal College Town Assessment (OCTA) a quantitative tool which was utilized to gather data from the representatives of the university and Thohoyandou town stakeholders. To test the town and gown developmental paradigm, this study explored student housing development possibilities as a manifestation of university-community partnerships. The study findings highlight that existing town-gown relationships between the University of Venda and its stakeholders are categorized as traditional relationship type which is characterized by low effort and higher comfort level. Institutional context roles that the University of Venda should play in the successful development of town-gown partnerships were also established. The study identified the factors essential for the development of viable and functional innovative collaborative university-stakeholder’s partnerships for the University of Venda and the town of Thohoyandou and its stakeholders. The study findings also show that there is potential for student housing development when there are positive town-gown relationships. This is in line with the calls from South Africa’s Ministry of Higher Education and Training expectations to resolve student housing backlogs facing public universities. This study recommends the improvement of town-gown relationships and it provides a conceptual model indicating the building blocks that the university should adopt to develop successful, innovative, viable and functional town-gown partnerships.

Bibliography: pages 575-599. / This study of peri-urban development in the Western Cape examines the acquisition and exploitation of property as an important feature in attaining economic power and high social status by upwardly-mobile people in a colonial setting. The choice of Wynberg in the southern Cape Peninsula as a focal point in this process is predicated upon its rapid growth during the nineteenth century in response to the need for a service centre in this comparatively undeveloped area, and the vigorous marketing which followed its recognition as a desirable and convenient place of residence. Its establishment owed much to the presence and requirements of the British military camp at Wynberg, but its continued growth and expansion can be attributed to the activities of the property developers, the efforts of a lively commercial sector and the construction of the Wynberg Railway. This process of residential and economic development is the main theme of the first five chapters of this thesis and is based, inter alia, on intensive primary research in the Cape Town Deeds Office. By 1880 Wynberg had become the centre of a new surge of growth beyond the city limits of Cape Town, eventually achieving smalltown status with its own independent municipality. There were substantial demographic changes in the area and this thesis contends that the multi-faceted development at Wynberg was facilitated both by particular individuals and interest groups. The inequalities in its evolving social formation which included not only landed proprietors but also many landless people, was not unique and was informed by the pervasive colonial belief in the dominance of European organising principles and capitalist market forces in relation to the exploitation of land. Historically, Wynberg resisted incorporation into the metropolitan area because it had achieved a high level of self-sufficiency by the end of the century. The institution of its municipal council and the defence of its independence prior to and after 1913 when the other Peninsula municipalities were amalgamated with Cape Town, forms the second major theme which is examined in Chapters 6 to 9 of this thesis. Its determined struggle to retain its autonomy ended in 1127 when it yielded to financial and other pressures, whereupon it was formally incorporated within the city limits of Cape Town.

Small towns can be seen as the fundamental building blocks of tbe urban system. Through time, some of these towns have lost the primary reason for their existence. Some towns that have been declining or stagnating include old mining and industrial towns, such as Indwe in the Eastern Cape or Welkom in the Free State. Some towns have also changed the main focus of tbeir economy, for example, from that of mining to that of tourism, as in the case of Utrecht in Kwa-Zulu Natal (Nel, 2002). In light of the above, this thesis seeks to critically evaluate what has happened in selected small towns in the Eastern Cape. The research investigated a number of towns in the Eastern Cape, looking at the history and influence of colonisation, population dynamics, education levels, employment opportunities, migration and the influence of capitalism on the economic and social structure of the town, as well as tbe evolution of its economy. The research sample consisted of interviews witb local historians, community leaders, development agencies and individuals who were benefiting from tbe various development initiatives/project in the towns. These interviews, in conjunction with the literature identified, were conducted in the selected small towns, assessing whether development was succeeding and, in conclusion, identifying witb reference to the study sites, what was learnt. The research process generated a number of lessons that need to be taken into consideration when attempting social and economic upliftment in small towns. These include: the need for leadership, support from the local population and the need for financial assistance to support and uplift the community. / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Development planning, or more specifically integrated development planning, has been identified as the most appropriate form of planning to satisfy the wide range of needs of the very diverse populations of South Africa's cities and towns, and to mirror the political and social changes brought about by the advent of democracy. In this study the evolution of the concept of development planning as well as the present form of integrated development planning in South Africa is looked at. This is complemented with a study of the process itself, as it has materialised in reality in six local governments. What was found was that an innovative system has come about, culminating in the first cycle of the integrated development planning system. This consists of a number of steps or phases, namely, assessing the current reality, formulating goals and strategies, and ultimately monitoring and reviewing what has been achieved, all guided by a set of predetermined principles and implemented through the municipality's budget. It was found that the process has much potential to plan for real development, allow for authentic public participation and promote sectoral and intergovernmental integration. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ontwikkelingsbeplanning, en meer spesifiek, geintegreerde ontwikkelingsbeplanning, is geidentifiseer as die mees toepaslike vorm van beplanning wat die wydlopende behoeftes van Suid-Afrika se stede en dorpe, en sy diverse bevolking suksesvol kan aanspreek. Dit is veral van toepassing om die nuwe politieke en maatskaplike veranderinge, wat deur die instel van demokratiese regering geskep is, te weerspieel, In die werkstuk is die evolusie van die konsep van ontwikkelingsbeplanning asook die huidige formaat van geintegreerde ontwikkelingsbeplanning in Suid-Afrika ondersoek. Dit is gemeet deur 'n studie van die verloop van die proses in ses plaaslike besture. Uit die studie is vasgestel dat 'n innoverende sisteem ontwikkel is, wat geeindig het met die eerste siklus van die proses van gemtegreerde ontwikkelingsbeplanning. Die siklus bestaan uit 'n aantal stappe of fases, soos: beraming van die huidige realiteite, formulering van doelstellings en strategiee, en uiteindelik die monitering en oorsig van wat bereik is. Dit alles word gerig deur 'n stel voorafbepaalde beginsels en geimplementeer deur die munisipaliteit se begroting. Dit is bevind dat die proses potensiaal het vir beplanning om reele ontwikkeling moontlik te maak, werklike publieke deelname toelaat, en sektorale en interregerings integrasie bevorder.

Thesis (MSc (Geography and Environmental Studies))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Accelerating urban growth places increasing pressure not only on the efficiency of infrastructure and service provision, but also on the natural environment. City managers are delegated the task of identifying problem areas that arise from this phenomenon and planning the strategies with which to alleviate them. It is with this in mind that the research investigates the implementation of an urban growth model, SLEUTH, as a support tool in the planning and decision making process. These investigations are carried out on historical urban data for the region falling under the control of the Cape Metropolitan Authority. The primary aim of the research was to simulate future urban expansion of Cape Town based on past growth patterns by making use of cellular automata methodology in the SLEUTH modeling platform. The following objectives were explored, namely to: a) determine the impact of urbanization on the study area, b) identify strategies for managing urban growth from literature, c) apply cellular automata as a modeling tool and decision-making aid, d) formulate an urban growth policy based on strategies from literature, and e) justify SLEUTH as the desired modeling framework from literature. An extensive data base for the study area was acquired from the product of a joint initiative between the private and public sector, called “Urban Monitoring”. The data base included: a) five historical urban extent images (1977, 1988, 1993, 1996 and 1998); b) an official urban buffer zone or ‘urban edge’, c) a Metropolitan Open Space System (MOSS) database, d) two road networks, and d) a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Each dataset was converted to raster format in ArcEdit and finally .gif images were created of each data layer for compliance with SLEUTH requirements. SLEUTH processed this historic data to calibrate the growth variables for best fit of observed historic growth. An urban growth forecast was run based on the calibration parameters. Findings suggest SLEUTH can be applied successfully and produce realistic projection of urban expansion. A comparison between modelled and real urban area revealed 76% model accuracy. The research then attempts to mimic urban growth policy in the modeling environment, with mixed results.

Thesis (MA (Geography and Environmental Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Issues relating to globalization and the rise of the New Economy have received much attention from academics. Renewed emphasis has been placed on the importance of locality and cities are seen as gateways to ensuring a competitive role in the global economy. In South Africa, local economic development (LED) approaches are increasingly reflecting market-driven entrepreneurialism as cities compete to attract investment. This has, however, caused the decline of economies of already lagging regions, widening regional disparities. Statistical evidence confirms the opinion that the service sector has become a leading contributor to national and regional economic growth, both internationally and in South Africa. Synonymous with the knowledge-based economy is the dependence of this sector on innovation and highly skilled human capital as drivers of competitiveness and development. As a result, the role of universities as producers of knowledge and educated labour has received much attention. The perceived geographic “footloose” nature of knowledge-based industries has also led some to believe in their potential to reduce the disparities between cities and small towns or peripheral locations. Evidence show, however, that knowledge-based service industries still tend to cluster in major metropolitan areas. Though the importance of the knowledge-based service sector has been acknowledged by academics and government, a lack of empirical research still exist on the decision-making processes determining the choice of location of South African companies. Research has indicated the medium-sized town of Stellenbosch in South Africa to have a high level of growth potential. The town is also the location of a well-established IT and knowledge-based service sector. For the purpose of this study, a database was compiled of a research population of 329 knowledge-based service industries operational in Stellenbosch, after which surveys were distributed amongst the entire population. Data generated from 104 completed questionnaires provided a deepened understanding of the nature of these industries of which the majority is single-branch businesses situated in Stellenbosch due to the fact that it was the owners or key role players’ home town during the time of establishment. Other notable trends such as the growth in the number of international head offices in the knowledge-based service sector, the availability of highly skilled labour, and proximity to important clients, further highlights the reasoning behind the decision of knowledge-based companies to locate in Stellenbosch specifically. Finally, the existing linkages between Stellenbosch University and these industries - specifically the IT and engineering sector - receives attention.

Development backlogs, in terms of unemployment and poverty, plague many developing countries. Countries have established and implemented various policies and plans to address these challenges. In response to these development backlogs, South Africa has instituted the notion of decentralisation and developmental local government, whereby local governments are largely responsible for initiating and facilitating development in the area under their jurisdiction. Furthermore, the potential role the private sector can play in development is being increasingly recognised by government, politicians, academics and developers alike. Uitenhage has a strong corporate presence and therefore this sector has the potential to contribute towards development in the town. However the concept of using corporate social responsibility (CSR) to promote development in South Africa is relatively new and, as will be revealed in the case study, definitions and underlying motivation for undertaking CSR vary. Local Economic Development (LED) and, more recently, CSR, have been recognised as major drivers of development and are being implemented throughout the country. As this thesis illustrates, they often merge and can work hand-in-hand to promote local development. Although the private sector, through CSR has the potential to contribute to development, they often do not have the available human resources to implement development initiatives. As is evident in the case study, partnerships between the private and public sectors often emerge as a result. Development institutions play a key role in development and often assist in bridging the gap between citizens, the state and the market. The development institutions in Uitenhage often act as instigators and facilitators on behalf of the larger corporations. The case study in Uitenhage, is a locality where there is a strong automotive industrial cluster and several major firms which are active in the development process. Furthermore, development institutions are committed to the socio-economic development of the town and the promotion of small micro medium enterprises (SMMEs), through various support services. The development institutions, often in partnership with the local government and the public sector, have initiated various local developmental projects in the town, of which three will be discussed in the case study. In this thesis, case study research reveals that corporations often do not meet their potential developmental role and their CSR actions are often considered as ‘window-dressing’ aimed at boosting their corporate image. Similarly, with regard to the development institutions, their development and job creation results look impressive at first glance, but further investigation reveals a collapse of a large number of projects. Despite the potential of LED and CSR to be major drivers of local development, there are still a number of hindering factors, which will be revealed in this thesis and lessons to be learnt which can help to inform future local development projects

Small towns internationally and in South Africa are becoming increasingly marginalised, and they are often experiencing economic downturn, demographic shifts and a rearticulation of their role in the urban hierarchy. In the case of South Africa many of these small towns are also faced with low levels of social development. The urgent need to address such conditions is evident by the fact that a large proportion of the South African population resides in small towns, and their surrounding hinterlands. This said, there are examples of small towns, internationally and in South Africa which, through the use of various Local Economic Development actions, have managed to remain sustainable, and in some cases become economically viable localities once again. In light of the above, the research conducted for this thesis seeks first to establish the socio-economic changes occurring over time in three small towns in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, namely Stutterheim, Bedford and Hamburg. Secondly, the research aims to identify the nature of LED activities in the three small towns, highlighting those factors contributing to the success of LED initiatives as well as those factors inhibiting LED in small towns. This is done with the intention of developing future lessons for LED in small towns. The research was conducted using a mix of qualitative and quantitative data generated through the interviews with key role players in each town, as well as secondary data sources. Findings from the research suggest that the small towns investigated are characterised by low levels of socio-economic development. In addition, it appears that the development opportunities for the towns are limited. Current initiatives are being driven by private role players with local government being largely uninvolved. Such initiatives are limited in nature, with benefits only felt by small groups of the local community. However, examples do exist of where LED has successfully benefited the broader spheres of the local community, thus suggesting that if implemented properly such an approach does have potential to assist in the socio-economic development of small towns. In light of this, a number of lessons are identified for LED in small towns, including the need for strong leadership, community involvement, partnerships between role players, and planning for project sustainability.

Thesis (M.Dev.(Planning and Development)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Mpumalanga Province has witnessed service delivery unrest and protests that destroyed the public infrastructure. There is thus an immediate need to conduct the study - to contribute to the body of knowledge, and to assist the concerned city under review. The service delivery challenges in the municipality are just a drop in the ocean, among the major problems in the sphere of the local government. Communities expect service delivery from their municipalities. Mpumalanga Province has witnessed unrest and protests, due to poor service delivery. The City of Mbombela is no exception. This study aims to examine the lack of service delivery to develop the communities in the Mbombela municipality due to shortage of capacity. The study assesses the strategies used in capacity building to improve service delivery. A qualitative research method is used to collect data. A sample of 15 respondents were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The finding shows that the Mbombela Municipality has been playing a vital role in the provision of basic services to the local communities. However, the municipality faces several challenges related to service delivery, especially insufficient funds, corruption and political interference. The finding also highlights that the municipality lacks proper capacity building strategies for enhancing service delivery. The study recommends that mitigation measures could address these capacity-building challenges. These include enhancing recruitment, spending money wisely, avoiding politics and implementing strategies. Key words: Capacity building, service delivery, Mbombela Local Municipality