The socio-economic problems created by apartheid in South Africa are a huge challenge to the current government. In order to alleviate the above, Integrated Development Planning was seen as the most appropriate strategy the country could apply. There was need to introduce a new approach to planning which was integrated, democratic and environmentally sensitive. For the first time, planning became 'people focused' by introducing participatory processes. As a backup to the above strategy, government introduced a variety of measures to bring total transformation to local government to facilitate service delivery. The key actions taken were; restructuring of local authorities, provision of new legislative framework and various capacity support programmes. Ironically, ten years after democracy was achieved, the situation has hardly changed. Access to basic services is still poor, poverty is worsening and unemployment is on the increase. This fact has been confirmed by the 2001 census data, which generally reflect deteriorating standard of living. This has been the cause of the current widespread violent demonstrations by communities in the country. It is ironical that despite all the effort being put by the provincial and national governments, the desired goals are not being achieved. This raises the big question, 'What is going wrong?' Are there shortcomings within the structures and processes or programmes being undertaken? The above question can be answered by conducting a research to try and find the root cause of the problem. This would be carried out by way of scrutinizing the roles and responsibilities of major stakeholders in development namely, municipalities, sector departments and communities. Focus would be made on issues like cooperative governance, weakness within support initiatives, availability of funding, compliance with prescribed processes and procedures etc. The research aims to interrogate the causes of poor service delivery and possible practical solutions. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.

Men have been neglected in development discourse to the extent where, for example, demographic research on men and fathers has been sparse. As a result we do not know how many men in South Africa are fathers and there is no available survey that measures this statistic. This study attempts to fill a gap in our knowledge of fathers by asking how many men are fathers, whether they are resident or absent, and what type and level of involvement they have with their children. A household questionnaire (adapted from the General Household Survey) was used to estimate the number of biological fathers in 100 households in Clermont. Interviews were conducted to explore reasons for existing living arrangements between the father and his partner and children. Some key findings from the research include: the family structure of households in Clermont is extremely varied; a majority of men over the age of18 appear to have fathered a child; men willingly identified themselves as a father; and a significant number of men live apart from their children. With respect to absent fathers, the research supports Mott 's theory (1990) that there is a continuum of involvement with their children. Many of Clermont's absent fathers make a voluntary economic contribution to their children and they visit their children on a regular basis (usually weekly or monthly). In several cases where a father was not making an economic contribution this was because he was unemployed. Very few cases were recorded where a father had broken off contact with his children completely. Some fathers lived separately from their children because they had employment in another area. Others lived apart from their children because they were unemployed; it was clear from the research that while men perceived their role of provider as important this was not the only criterion to make for a good role model as a father. Tradition was another important reason why men did not reside with their children; cases were recorded where the father could not afford to pay lobola which would allow him to marry the mother. Another reason for father absence was because a new relationship had been formed by the mother or father, or both. A significant proportion of both resident and absent fathers stated they would like to spend more time with their children. This suggests policy and activities that promote increased involvement of fathers in the welfare of their children would be welcomed by the fathers of Clermont. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

The developing world is characterised by considerable social and economic problems. The unavailability of sufficient housing opportunities in the countries of the developing world is one of the key factors that contributes to their socio-economic malaise. The provision of shelter for the homeless of a country serves not only as an important political act, but also as an important socio-economic development tool for that country. For majority parties in governments to remain popular, housing serves as a basis for the provision of tangible delivery, which at the same time has the capacity to contribute to the countries socio-economic development. The provision of housing in many countries has been implemented with the objective of providing not only shelter, but also to encourage social and economic development for communities. The approaches taken have varied from time to time and have in many respects been implemented in an attempt to address the needs, constraints and opportunities faced by communities. In South Afica, the implementation of a housing policy that encompassed these issues, came into operation in 1994, with the onset of a democratic order. While successes have been recorded, it has been found that few projects have met their objectives. This thesis attempts to analyse the effects of the implementation of this housing policy on the communities of Ntuthukoville and Site 11, both of which are located in the town of Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu-Natal. The study focuses on the amount of money and resources expended by these communities on the upgrading of their houses outside of the assistance provided by government. In this way an attempt is made to analyse whether or not the state's role as facilitator rather than provider has been achieved. Further, the economic spinoffs that emerge from the spending of individuals capital is assessed as a stimulus for local growth and development. The approach adopted includes an analysis of two communities within which different management styles have been used in the implementation of the housing policy. Information in the case studies has been extracted using interviews with key informants and the administration of a questionnaire on a face to face basis, on a sample population in each of the respective communities. The findings of the study reveal that the one community has spent more time and money on their houses in the form of new extensions, upgrading of existing buildings and new internal finishing as compared to the other. The primary reason centres on the manner in which the respective developments were implemented and the management style that was used in each. In the one community there was a community driven approach to development as compared to a State driven approach in the other. The study also reveals that the housing policy currently in operation, has the potential to give impetus to, community participation, social and economic development for the community, as well as the area in general. This policy also has the capacity to provide skill's enhancement, kick start local economies and it provides for the State to act as facilitator rather than provider. This capacity however is dependent on the proper implementation of the policy. The capacity of local government needs to be boosted in order for the maximum gains to be made from the provision of housing to communities. As is indicated by the study, local government lacks the skills and the resources to effectively implement the responsibility devolved upon it by national government to provide and facilitate housing. There is thus a need for change in the approach of local government to housing delivery. A fresh approach should be that of facilitating and managing effectively with communities rather than for communities. The nett effect of which is likely to be, the building of capacity, stimulating the local economy and delivering to the poorest of the poor. / Theses (M.Sc.U.R.P.)-University of Natal, 1998.

Owing to the concern about the serious factors influencing global warming and climatic change, the process of sustainable landscape construction as well as ecologically friendly developments needs to be addressed. In particular, the questions to ask is are we nearer to accepting sustainable growth advantages in South Africa , primarily the greater eThekwini Municipal Area? In this research paper an analysis of both a theoretical and practical approach to conventional understanding s relating to development practices and issues that encompass greening of cities and the notion of rooftop gardens will be assessed. In so doing it will investigate the discourse surrounding urban ecology and sustainable landscape developments and how both processes incorporate the topic of rooftop gardening, urban agriculture and people’s attitudes towards nature in the city, which regrettably from a South African perspective has very little comprehensive literature written about it. The research will give clarity and hopefully show that there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that rooftop gardens form an intricate part of urban ecology. In addition to this that they can provide general environmental, associated aesthetic and health benefits for cities and their inhabitants. Hopefully in culmination this research study will promote a greater insight into rooftop gardens benefits for city management systems. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 1999.

In response to South Africa's idiosyncratic past, integrated development planning has emerged as a policy and practical instrument for reconstruction and development of a new society. This form of planning seeks to weave the different cut pieces of the fragmented past through a common tread resulting in a rich tapestry of human society. This complex process is not without conflict, tension, uncertainties, ambiguities and confusion. This dissertation seeks to explore the evolution, logic and character of this planning model. Such an exploration will help unpack the confluence of forces that gave rise to this planning as well as how it unfolds in contemporary times. The role of key players within the context of integrated development planning, namely officials and councillors, will be examined in an effort to come to terms with how the manifestations of power relations between these actors help bring colour to this process. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 1998.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

The study is concerned with economic restructuring and its effects on small towns. A small town, Pongola, has been chosen to illustrate how economic change affects small agriculturally based settlements. Local economic development (LED) is then suggested as one approach to address some of the problems that exist in places like Pongola. What motivated me to undertake this study is that many of the problems that exist in South Africa's big cities and large towns emanated from the fact that small towns and rural areas are generally neglected by national government. One problem that needs to be mentioned here is that of hyperurbanisation. This problem has been caused by the neglect of rural areas leading to overly rapid rural-urban migration. Whilst urbanisation per se is not a problem, urbanisation in excess of the absorption capacity of cities. Rural areas account for 40% of the total population of South Africa yet the pattern of rural settlement, for a variety of historical reasons, has been distorted. There is massive rural overcrowding in some areas, to the point where ecological collapse is imminent (Dewar 1994). In other areas, the essential social and service infrastructure necessary to support a vibrant local agrarian economy is declining steadily. The result is an ongoing contribution to hyperurbanisation: people who are involuntarily displaced from the countryside move to towns and cities that are growing at rates that outstrip the ability of the urban systems to deliver jobs and services. A main challenge in the new political and social dispensation is to target these areas that have been disadvantaged in the past and which are now the source of major problems for the country as a whole. As many urban areas are experiencing major plant closings and more retrenchments in the context of global economic competition, it becomes imperative to consider developing small towns and their rural hinterlands. Planning analysts like Dewar, McCarthy, Rogerson and Nel, have all commented that rural areas have a potential, that of available land, which could be used to address some of the problems. They also call for the social, economic and urban reconstruction of small towns. This study does not intend seeking a solution to all agricultural and rural problems. However, after looking at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of this particular case study, I will suggest that local economic development (LED) is an alternative planning strategy that could be used to address some of the problems of small town development. Although LED has its own short-comings, it has the advantage of using local comparative advantage of a particular locality to create jobs and achieve economic growth. It therefore avoids trying to resolve problems of small towns by diverting growth from other areas as it happened for example, with the old Regional Industrial Development Programme. This dissertation will look first at global economic restructuring and its effects on localities. Secondly this study will discuss the restructuring of commercial agricultural production, looking specifically at the implications of this restructuring process for workers in agriculture, and will also look at some processes that have brought about this transformation and the phenomenon of declining small towns. Thirdly, this study seeks to explore in the literature that is available what other South African small towns, have done to address problems that exist in their localities. Stutterheim will be used as an example of a local development initiative with apparent considerate success, although a recent study disputes this. Finally, this study seeks to use alternative interpretations of local economic development (both locally and internationally) as a bases for draWing policy recommendations for Pongola. Another general concern is to explore how Pongola is responding to problems of decline. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 1998.

Town and regional planning in South Africa is challenged by global-and local-economic, social and political changes; the weight of its history in the apartheid past; a poor image; and ultimately, a functional change in the traditional role of planners. South African planning schools have to more and more deal with under-prepared students and cope with competition from other disciplines. The crucial question is: does planning education prepare graduates adequately to make a contribution to the profession within this context? This thesis examines the relevance of planning education at South African universities. This is done firstly by comparing South African trends in planning to international trends, and secondly, by assessing practitioners' views on the relevance of planning programmes, and whether their skill requirements match the skills seen as important by planning educators and those offered by graduates. The empirical research was done by assessing four universities' planning programmes, interviewing senior staff at these universities, and surveying 40 planning practitioners in the corresponding four metropolitan areas. The main issues under enquiry were: the relevance of planning curricula; students' practical experience during training; specialist versus generalist education; undergraduate and/or postgraduate education; life-long learning, and the core skills and competency requirements upon entering the planning profession. The world needs planning, and planning education is the key to the survival of the profession. With certain reservations, it is concluded that planning education, through the teaching of appropriate skills, is relevant for planning practice. To a large extent, planning education at South African universities follows international trends. / Thesis (M.Sc.U.R.P.)-University of Natal, 2002.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.