Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The abolishment of Apartheid and the transition to a democratic political dispensation has ushered in a new era for urban development in South Africa. This change implies a range of challenges for managing urban areas which also includes the urban environment. Urban environmental creation (defined as activity to green the urban environment) holds the potential to mitigate the consequences caused by Apartheid to South Africans and in addition, if planned properly and applied sensibly, can contribute significantly towards social and economic prosperity in this country. Relatively few attempts to date have been made to research urban greening within the so-called new South African context. Currently a lack of vision exists regarding strategy development for future urban greening and dissension regarding the objectives of urban greening has been identified as a key problem area. This makes it particularly difficult to take decisions at project execution level. From the outset, the aims of this research were two-fold, namely to measure progress at project co-ordination level and further to conceptualise a theoretical framework for future decision making. The literature review documents the agendas for urban greening, both past and present. An, analysis of various urban planning and design strategies, together with South African central government policies which refer to urban environmental management, has shown that a paradigm shift is occurring within the urban greening discipline. This shift is characterised by a movement away from urban greening which focuses on secondary social needs of people, and a shift towards urban greening which is more sensitive to the primary social and economic needs of cities' inhabitants. This research uses a case study approach to measure progress gained in urban greening practise and to determine the current state of affairs. A sample of projects for analysis was obtained from four organisations. Information gathered was then analysed in terms of selected characteristics. In addition, the execution processes (planning, implementation, construction and maintenance) of four urban greening development projects, which were selected randomly from the sample, are described. The research is concluded with a synthesis of findings and recommendations into a conceptual framework for future decision making. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die beëindiging van Apartheid en die oorgang na 'n demokratiese politieke bestel het 'n nuwe era vir stedelike ontwikkeling in Suid Afrika ingelui. Hierdie verandering hou 'n reeks nuwe uitdagings vir stedelike bestuur in, wat onder andere ook die bestuur van die stedelike omgewing insluit. Stedelike omgewingsskepping, wat gedefinieer kan word as aktiwiteit om die stedelike omgewing te vergroen, besit die potensiaal om skade wat Apartheid aan Suid Afrikaners berokken het te temper en kan voorts, indien dit deurdag beplan en aangewend word, bydra tot sosiale en ekonomiese welvaart in Suid Afrika. Tot hede, is daar nog betreklik min navorsing oor stedelike vergroening binne die sogenaamde Nuwe Suid Afrika konteks onderneem. Daar bestaan tans groot leemtes aangaande die gedaante wat stedelike vergroening binne 'n post-Apartheid konteks behoort te verbeeld, weens twee-spalt wat heers met betrekking tot doelwitte. Gepaardgaande hiermee, bestaan daar ook geen aanvaarbare strategie vir die toekoms nie. Al hierdie probleme tesame bemoeilik sinvolle besluitneming op grondvlak. Hierdie navorsing stel dit dus breedweg as mikpunt om die konteks van stedelike vergroening in Suid-Afrika te bepaal, vordering wat sedert demokratisering in die veld bereik is te meet en verder om 'n raamwerk vir die toekoms daar te stel. Die agendas vir stedelike vergroening (soos wat dit in die verlede was en hoe dit tans uitsien), word in die literatuuroorsig gepeil. 'n Ontleding van 'n verskeidenheid van stadsbeplannings en - ontwerp strategieë tesame met 'n ontleding van Suid Afrikaanse sentrale owerheidsbeleid wat betrekking het op stedelike omgewingsbestuur, bevestig meegaande 'n hipotese wat gestel is, naamlik dat 'n paradigma verskuiwing besig is om plaas te vind in die stedelike vergroenings veld. Hierdie paradigma verskuiwing word gekenmerk deur 'n beweging weg vanaf stedelike vergroening wat gefokus is op die sekondêre sosiale behoeftes van mense en 'n beweging na stedelike vergroening wat fokus op die primêre sosiale en ekonomiese behoeftes van stedelinge. 'n Navorsingsprojek is onderneem ten einde die huidige stand van gekoordineerde stedelike vergroenings ontwikkeling, aldus stedelike vergroening wat spesifiek gemik is op die ontwikkeling van gemeenskappe wat deur die vorige politieke stelsel in Suid Afrika benadeel is, te meet. 'n Steekproef vir analise is verkry, deur 'n vraelys ondersoek te loods onder vier organisasies wat as gevallestudies deel neem. Stedelike vergroenings ontwikkelingsprojekte wat deur hierdie organisasies gelys is (die steekproef elemente) is dan aan die hand van geselekteerdekenmerke en eienskappe vergelyk en ontleed. Gepaardgaande hiermee volg daar ook 'n prosesbeskrywing van vier stedelike vergroenings ontwikkelings projekte wat subjektief uit die vier gevallestudies geselekteer is. Die doel hiervan is om gedetailleerde insae te verskaf tot die wyse hoe stedelike vergroenings ontwikkelings projekte tans tot uitvoering gebring word. Die navorsing word saamgevat deur 'n sintese van bevindings en aanbevelings in 'n teoretiese raamwerk vir toekomstige besluitneming.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Crocodile River Greenbelt area, located along the northern edge of Nelspruit, is a unique ecological system that must be protected from encroaching urbanization and invasive alien vegetation. The writer has attempted through policy intervention to achieve this goal. A policy for a greenbelt was compiled to allow for limited development along the Crocodile River Greenbelt area. The first step was to compile a policy for the Crocodile River Greenbelt area, and to contextualise the legislative requirements to compile such a policy. The second step was to discuss the State of Environment Report, which was compiled for the Crocodile River Greenbelt area and reflects directly the physical environment of the policy area. The third step was to lay the foundation of the policy by discussing guiding principles for open space systems. These principles form the basis of the policy. The fourth step was the compilation of the policy itself, which is underpinned by a spatial framework to guide the future physical development of the area. As conservation of the Crocodile River Greenbelt area is the main objective of the policy as well as allowing for limited development within the urban area, a management structure was proposed as Step 5 to achieve these objectives. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Krokodilrivier-groengordelgebied is in die noordelike deel van Nelspruit geleë en is 'n unieke ekologiese stelsel wat beskerm moet word teen verstedeliking en indringer plante. Die skrywer poog deur 'n beleidsintervensie om hierdie doel te bereik. Die beleid vir 'n groengordel is saamgestelom voorsiening te maak vir beperkte ontwikkeling in die Krokodilrivier-groengordelgebied. Die eerste stap om so 'n beleid saam te stel vir die Krokodilrivier-groengordelgebied was om dit te kontekstualiseer binne die wetlike vereistes vir so 'n beleid. Die tweede stap was om die resultate van die Omgewings-toestandsverslag, wat vir die Krokodilrivier-groengordelgebied opgestel is en die fisiese omgewing van die beleidsgebied opsom, te bepreek. Die derde stap was om die rigtingewende beginsels van oopruimtes te bespreek wat die grondslag van die beleid vorm. Die vierde stap was die saamstel van die beleid self, wat gerugsteun word deur die grondgebruik plan wat toekomstige fisiese ontwikkeling van die gebied rig. Omdat bewaring van die Krokodilrivier-groengordelgebied die hoofdoel van die beleid is, tesame met beperkte ontwikkeling binne die stedelike gebied, is in Stap 5 'n bestuurstruktuur voorgestelom hierdie doel te bereik.

With a view to understanding how curriculum is interpreted at classroom practice level, the study examined three stories of how the environmental discourse of the National Curriculum Statements (R-9) was recontextualised using school gardens in the Life Orientation Learning Area for the Senior Phase. To understand how the curriculum is recontextualised, I used Bernstein's theory of recontexutalisation where he explained how official pedagogic discourse (OPD) (in this case the environmental discourse is first delocated once it is transferred from the field of production (FOP) and relocated in the recontextualising field (where teacher educators and departmental officials mediate the discourse) and in the field of reproduction (FOR) which is the classroom and school. Bernstein explained that as the discourse is delocated and relocated it undergoes transformation. This transformation is influenced by practitioners' prior-knowledge, experience, culture and beliefs and other factors. To understand how transformation of the environmental discourse takes place, Bernstein's conceptual constructs of selective appropriation and ideological transformation were applied to an interpretation of three lesson processes, to explain how the discourse was changed. Each lesson was reviewed in terms of the selective appropriations and ideological transformations which took place. All three of the lessons observed took place in one school, and as such the study is designed as an interpretive case study where I have tried to make meaning from a rich, thick description of a specific case context. The school is located in Bizana, one of the villages in the O.R. Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province,, and is currently in the process of implementing South Africa’s new National Curriculum Statement (NCS) like all other schools in South Africa. In conducting the research I observed lessons, interviewed the learners and teachers, and a community member and the manager of the SANBI greening project, and I also analysed documents which included the NCS for Life Orientation, and teachers planning documents and learners work produced in the lessons. I started the study by conducting a document analysis of the NCS, through which I identified dimensions of the Official Pedagogic Discourse. This was used as a framework to review the lessons to understand how the OPD was being recontextualised. The study concludes by discussing the key findings of the study in the form of a set of analytical statements. Some of the findings indicate that teachers have not been given adequate training for understanding and implementing the NCS which affects the recontextualisation process. The study shows that there is a dire need for professional development if the OPD is to be interpreted adequately by teachers so that its implementation at the meso and micro- levels becomes clear and effective.

Successful management of Environmental Education (EE) projects in schools is essential as it enhances teaching and learning in different subjects. The fact that EE is not a subject on its own, but is integrated into other subjects, has many detrimental effects with regard to the management of EE projects in schools. There are several barriers attached to the poor management of EE globally, in Africa and in South Africa. This study explored barriers to managing EE projects in Alexandra Township primary and secondary schools. This study was underpinned by total quality management theory. The research method used in the study followed a qualitative interpretative approach and data collection methods included a literature study, Participatory observation and open-ended questionnaires in order to examine the barriers to managing EE projects. Participants in the study were school principals, educators, subject facilitators and Institutional Development Support Officers (IDSOs). Findings indicated that, although school have EE projects, but there is a lack of competency and expertise in managing EE projects in schools. Non-governmental organisations are key role plays with expertise and competency in managing EE projects in schools. The study further indicated limited support offered by subject facilitators and IDSOs on how to manage EE projects in schools. However, there are number of factors that hinder successful management of EE projects in schools: these include lack of integration of EE into other subjects, lack of funds and other required resources, lack of time, and inadequate training. It was concluded that there were no systems in place that acted as a guideline for school principals and educators to overcome the barriers in EE project management in schools. It was concluded that school principals, educators and stakeholders, including subject facilitators and IDSO’s should work together in managing EE projects in schools. Hence, this study calls attention to the provision of in-service training for EE project management for school principals, educators, subject facilitators and IDSOs. Further, more relevant resources should be provided to schools in order to manage EE projects. / Science and Technology Education / D. Ed. (Didactics)

In recent years the number of people living in informal or 'squatter' settlements in South Africa has mushroomed and virtually every small town or city has one or more squatter settlements associated with it, often next door to the formal residential areas. Using field data collected from 1993 in two informal settlements in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa this study examines, firstly, the ways in which men and women in these communities organise their lives in their households and in the wider society. Secondly, it assesses the physical environment of informal settlements where there is a lack of service infrastructure, especially water, sewerage facilities, refuse removal and roads. Also, it was assumed that the presence of large numbers of people in an informal settlement has a deleterious effect on natural resources like the soil, wood, vegetation and water and that this may have a significant contribution to environmental pollution and degradation. This aspect was also examined. / Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)

This research explored the nature of conflict that arose in Xolobeni, a small area in the Mbizana Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, and the environmental politics emanating from the arguments that supported development rather than environmental protection. The proposed mining project was known as the Xolobeni mining development project within the Amadiba Tribal Authority, an area dominated by Pondos or (Mpondos). The Xolobeni area is located between the Mzamba and Mtentu Rivers, covering some 2 867 hectares, and extends for 20km along the coast of the Mbizana Local Municipality, in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality. In 2005, the Minister of the National Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), now known as the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, announced that an Australian company, Transworld Energy and Minerals (TEM) will establish a mining development project in Xolobeni to mine red sand dunes which are contained within five blocks, each named after the river at its southern boundary. These blocks were Mtentu, Sikombe, Kwanyana, Mnyameni and Mphalane. According to the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (Act 28 of 2002), the Department of Minerals and Energy is the sole custodian of the mining licence and therefore the only Department that issues mining licences. The research investigated the nature of conflict that erupted in Xolobeni after this announcement, resulting in the formation of two groups namely, the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC) which represented the communities who were against the mining project in the area and the Xolobeni Local Community (Xolco) which was a Black Economic Empowerment company that represented the communities that supported the mining project and was to receive 26 percent of the proceeds from the mining company. The purpose of the Amadiba Crisis Committee was to channel complaints and grievances of local residents emanating from the mining development project and other development to all relevant authorities so that the Constitutional rights of residents can be respected. The research also investigated the role of each stakeholder in the proposed mining project, namely, local communities in the area, environmentalists, councillors, the National Department of Minerals and Energy, the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs (DEDEA), the traditional authority and the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Economic Development and Environmental Affairs. Central to this research was the level of consultation during the proposed mining project. Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were used to collect data in Xolobeni. Interviews were conducted with the two opposing groups and other various stakeholders including the chieftaincy, environmentalists, councillors and officials in the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs (DEDEA). The researcher used questionnaires in order to get the views of the targeted participants. Eighty questionnaires were distributed among the targeted participants but only forty five were returned. Some of the participants were reluctant to participate in this study because the mining project had not taken place. Secondary data from the Departments of Environment of Affairs nationally and provincially revealed that the Department of Minerals and Energy through its Minister, Bulelwa Sonjica, awarded the mining licence despite recommendations of both Departments not to do so. The Minister of the new Department of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, withdrew the licence and gave three months to Transworld Energy and Minerals to address the outstanding issues raised in the environmental impact assessment (EIA). The data collected revealed that the proposed mining project affected all communities in the Amadiba Tribal Administrative area. The research also illustrated how the Xolobeni community organised themselves and protested against development that intended to force them to relocate from their ancestral land without proper consultation. Issues of sustainable development and environmental protection also formed part of the discussions in this research. While the mining project had stalled, it emerged that the majority of respondents in the area did not want the mining project to proceed.

As a sub-component of “green economy”, “the green transport” phrase is used interchangeably with eco-mobility, sustainable transport and clean transport. It has gained momentum as a way of addressing several socio-economic and environmental challenges associated with the conventional fossil-based transportation systems. Governments across the world have since developed policies and financial support mechanisms to pursue a greener transportation path. As a player in the global system, South Africa is expected to play a particular role. While research has been conducted in South Africa on various themes of transport greening, there seemed to be a lack of academic, integrated and comprehensive analyses of policy responses to these themes. This research thus sought to investigate and provide insight on the government’s responses to the transport greening revolution. It sought to benchmark this country against leading global players, making recommendations on policy directions for five transport greening themes: fuel quality, fuel economy, fuel switch, technology switch and non-motorised transportation. The aim was to contribute to the green economy body of knowledge, while assisting in guiding policy direction to enhance the country’s response system to the transport greening transition. Primary data were collected from interviews largely with representatives of key government departments at national and provincial levels as well as from attendance at various government and industry fora. Secondary data were obtained from policy, legislative and regulatory documents as well as official reports. Both primary and secondary data were analysed qualitatively using content analysis and presented using graphic, tabular and verbatim techniques. Using ideas borrowed from interventionist, systems, sustainability and globalisation conceptual frameworks, this research describes how South Africa is lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of transport greening policies and related financial and non-financial support mechanisms. Examples of good practice are nonetheless evident within the governance system. These include the adoption of globally accepted emissions and fuel economy standards, inclusion of transport greening agenda in various domestic legislative and policy frameworks, through to the exemption of certain transport greening products from import and local taxes. Many gaps still exist such as lack of incentives actively stimulating the demand and supply of green transport goods and services. This research therefore calls for more state intervention to address these gaps and strengthen existing policy and legislative frameworks. Due to the small sample of data sources used, the results are not generalisable, but nonetheless provide insight on green transportation and what South African policy makers should consider to improve the status quo. / Environmental Sciences / Ph. D. (Environmental Management)

This study examines the implementation and enforcement of the right to environment in the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and compares it with the situation in South Africa. To date, there is no legislation in the DRC that gives effect to this right, and the gap between the guaranteed right and the reality remains significant. Guidance may be found in the South African model for implementing and enforcing environmental right(s) which is sustained by an array of legislation. While the priorities on the agenda of political leaders in the DRC lack real willingness to deal with this matter, parliament must be pressured to pass legislation that gives effect to the right to environment and to improve the current framework of environmental regulation. It is imperative to create awareness in government and at grassroots level for the protection of the environment as a human right. / Jurisprudence / LL.M.

This study examines the effectiveness of environmental and developmental rights within the SADC region, especially the status of their implementation and enforcement in the DRC and the RSA. The SADC Treaty recognizes implicitly the rights to environment and to development. Unfortunately, the unequivocal commitment to deal with human rights within the region is not translated with equal force into the normative framework established by the Treaty or into SADC’s programmed activities. No institution has been established with the specific mandate to deal with human rights issues, neither are there any protocols or sectors especially entrusted with human rights protection and promotion. The SADC member States do not share the same understanding or agenda on matters pertaining to the respect for, and the promotion, protection and the fulfilment, of human rights at the regional level. The inception of environmental and developmental rights within the Constitution of the DRC is still in its infancy compared to the situation in South Africa. Implementation and enforcement remain poor and need important support from all organs of state and from the Congolese citizens. A strong regulatory framework pertaining to human rights (environmental and developmental rights) remains an urgent issue. Guidance may be found in the South African model for the implementation and enforcement of human rights, although the realization of the right to environment in South Africa is hampered by a number of factors that cause the degradation of the environment. Against South Africa’s socio-economic and political background, the constitutionalization of the right to development remains of critical concern to a sustainable future for all. The Congolese and South African peoples need to be made aware of their constitutional rights, especially their environmental and development rights, and the institutions and the mechanisms available to enforce them. They need to be empowered to demand justice as a right not as an act of charity. It is patently clear that the authorities will not protect the environment or tackle the development agenda unless there is a strong people’s movement to challenge the State and other role players over environmental and development issues and ethics. / Constitutional, International & Indigenous Law / LL.D.

South African Air Quality Units are continuously undergoing changes, and improving their performance remains a constant endeavour. In addition, these units are also experiencing several challenges in terms of improving communication across the different spheres, accessing air quality data and using the information to support the decision-making required for efficient management of air quality in South Africa. This study investigated the concept of output efficiency within the South African air quality management context. Models that enable efficient resource allocation can be used to assist managers in understanding how to become efficient. There are, however, few models that focus on the output efficiency of the public sector and air quality management units. The primary purpose of the study was to develop a model to predict the extent to which organisational efficiency could be explained by the percentage of man-hours allocated to a range of management activities. In this study, the development of a model using the logistic regression technique is discussed. Data was collected for two financial years (2005/6 and 2006/7) from the air quality officers in the national, provincial and local spheres of government (N=228). The logistic regression model fitted indicates that the proportion of time spent on knowledge management activities contributes the most to the likelihood of an Air Quality Unit being efficient. The resource allocation model developed will ensure that air quality officers allocate resources appropriately and improve their output performance. / Graduate School for Business Leadership / D.B. L.