This study assesses the role of skills development initiatives in promoting Local Economic Development in Cato Manor Township. The study objectives were: To investigate the concept of skills development initiatives as it is used as an LED strategy in South Africa and Cato Manor Township in particular; to identify and evaluate the methods or procedures used for skills development initiatives towards LED strategies in Cato Manor Township; to assess the effectiveness of skills development initiatives in Cato Manor Township and to highlight the lessons learnt through comparison with international and local precedents on the effective implementation of skills development initiatives. The methodology for this research study incorporated the use of primary and secondary data sources. Primary data sources include interviews with stakeholders that play a role in the implementation of skill development initiatives in Cato Manor. Interviews were conducted with the Cato Manor Development Association (CMDA) as the core founder of LED in Cato Manor Township. Key Area Based Management (ABM) officials and the eThekwini Municipality Town Planner were also interviewed. A questionnaire survey was administered to a sample of 20 Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprises and the perceptions of the Ward Councillor and Ward Committee added value to the discussion. The key findings revealed the extent to which skills development initiatives as LED strategies have been effective in Cato Manor Township. Such initiatives have been used as tools to lower the level of prevailing, eradicate poverty, create employment opportunities and encourage the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. Skills development initiatives have been major role players in the redevelopment strategy for this township, even though shortcomings were identified as hindrances to their contribution to sustainable development. Four main factors that contributed to the success and failure of skills development initiatives in Cato Manor Township were identified: skills development and employment opportunities; the upgrading and maintenance of business infrastructure; social development, poverty alleviation and skills development initiatives in Cato Manor Township; and youth empowerment with skills training programmes. Major findings revealed that skills development initiatives as LED strategies do not effectively target all areas of development, there is still more to be done to accelerate the economic and social growth. Therefore, the study recommends new and transformed methods or procedures of skills development initiatives as LED strategies in Cato Manor Township. That includes a holistic target of all principles of sustainable development such as economic, social and environmental development. The study also emphasizes the importance of adopting monitoring mechanisms such as the developing an LED model to guide and monitor development strategies within the area. Keywords: Skills development initiatives, Cato Manor, South Africa, Sustainable development, small and medium sized Enterprises

African women in the past were not given equal opportunities with men in planning and construction of their houses. As a result there is no clear indicative level of participation of women during the planning and construction of their houses. The People’s Housing Process is one of the approaches adopted by government and community organizations to encourage community participation in their housing projects but; women’s involvement is still not clear. Therefore this research is aiming to understand the activities performed by women, their roles in related activities, and the methods that they used to get involved in the planning and construction of their houses. A Qualitative research has been conducted to identify the level of women’s engagement in planning and construction of their houses in the People’s Housing Process (PHP) project at Piesang River. The findings of the study revealed that the Urban Poor Fund (UPF) savings system, together with the government subsidy for housing, empowered women to participate in planning and construction of their houses at Piesang River. Moreover; the findings indicated that town planning procedures and bylaws were not properly applied during project planning and implementation. In conclusion this dissertation recommends the formation of Municipal Community Partnership (MCP) for Piesang River FedUP community and EThekwini municipality, in which both stakeholders work together to address the way forward for the project in preference to continuing blaming each other for the shortfalls. / M.T.R.P. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2013.

This dissertation examines the role of Community Based Tourism as a Local Economic Development tool. It sought to establish the impact of Local Economic Development (LED) strategies employed by the Inanda Ntuzuma KwaMashu Area Based Management program (INK ABM) in alleviating poverty in Inanda Township through their living Heritage Site. It attempts to establish whether Community Based Tourism has had an impact on the economic empowerment of communities residing within the Inanda Heritage Route. Poverty Social and Impact Assessment was used in the assessment. The study revealed that LED strategies have had a significant impact in improving infrastructure and service delivery at Inanda Township, however Local Economic Development strategies have had marginal impact in improving the income, assets indicators, human capabilities, market share and employment creation for the local residents of Inanda. Moreover the study revealed that there is a strong positive correlation between education levels and the lack of success of entrepreneurs. A major finding is that LED strategies along the Inanda Heritage Route do not target all the segments of the poor in a meaningful way. As such the study suggests a new LED agenda in Inanda Township which is: holistic, targets all the segments of the poor, encourages skills development and consists of various investment packages which would ensure that poverty in its multidimensionality is addressed meaningfully. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

This study examines public participation in post-apartheid planning projects, using the KwaMashu Urban Renewal Project as a Case Study. A qualitative approach was adopted in the investigation. This study made the use of unstructured open ended interviews and observation to obtain primary data, which was thereafter analysed though the use of the thematic method. The study revealed that the process of Public Participation within the planning field has evolved substantially within the context of South Africa. There is adequate legislation and the necessary structures for public participation are present within the community. However, there is insufficient depth in legislation to ensure that public participation has an impact on final decision making. The extent of participation in the KwaMashu Renewal Project as a whole was minimal. This is mainly due to the nature of the participatory methods that were used which did not allow the community to fully engage with the planning processes within the different sub projects. It was evident that these [participatory methods] were mainly applied to fulfil the regulatory obligation for public participation in spatial development projects. The challenges of public participation that were noted within the case study include internal politics, land ownership and illegal occupation in state owned buildings. The study recommends early inclusion of the community in such projects and allowing for the community to be part of the creative process in projects. Secondly, this study also recommends that there needs to be a diffusion of power and diminishing limits of public participation within planning projects. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)--University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The study focus on the Greater Saldanha and environment by evaluating the socio-economic impact of the Saldanha Steel project on the area. Major development projects, like the SSP, can create significant impact on the socioeconomic features within the region of influence. This impact affects the provision of public services (education, health services, police protection), social services (housing, transport, urban land use) as well as the fiscal features of the region. Following the National elections in 1994, the new government implemented the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) to address social and economic problems in specific regions. The RDP was followed by the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy. Spatial Development Initiatives (SDI's), form part of the GEAR strategy and aims to address regional differences and promote sustainable long term development, economic growth and employment in the region. The West coast Investment Initiative (Well) is one of the eight SDI's that were identified. The Saldanha Steel project (SSP) is the focus project of the WCII. The initiative is a mixed industrial and agrotourism SDI. Great expectations were formed with respect to the number of employment opportunities that would be provided by the SSP, as well as the economic progress and development within the region. This study project evaluates the socio-economic impact of the SSP by focussing on the demographic aspects, social infrastructure and services, employment and income, housing and development, infrastructure provision as well as the SSP's involvement within the communities of Greater Saldanha and environment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie fokus op Groter Saldanha en omgewing deur die sosio-ekonomiese impak van die Saldanha Staal projek (SSP) op die gebied te evalueer. Groot ontwikkelingsprojekte, soos die SSP, kan 'n groot impak maak op die sosio-ekonomiese kenmerke binne die streek of area van invloed. Die impak word veral ervaar in die verskaffing van publieke dienste (opvoeding, gesondheisdienste, polisie), sosiale dienste (behuising, vervoer, stedelike grondgebruik) sowel as die fiskale karaktertrekke van die streek. Na die Nasionale verkiesing in 1994, het die nuwe regering die Heropbou en Ontwikkelingsprogram (HOP) geimplementeer om sosiale en ekonomiese probleme aan te spreek. Die HOP is in 1996 gevolg deur die "Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) strategie. As deel van die GEAR strategie, is Ruimtelike ontwikkelingsinisiatiewe deur die Nasionale Regering ingestel om streeksongelykhede aan te spreek en volhoubare lang termyn ontwikkeling, ekonomiese groei en werksgeleenthede te verseker vir die streek. Ag ruimtelike ontwikkelingsinisiatiewe (ROI) is ingestel, waarvan die Weskus Beleggingsinisiatief een is. Die Saldanha Staal projek (SSP) is die fokusprojek van die Weskus Beleggingsinisiatief. Die inisiatief is geidentifiseer as 'n gemengde industrieële en landboutoerisme ROI. Groot verwagtinge is geskep ten opsigte van die hoeveelheid werksgeleenthede wat geskep sal word deur die SSP, sowel as ekonomiese vooruitgang en ontwikkeling binne die streek. Die werkstuk evalueer die sosio-ekonomiese impak van die SSP deur te fokus op demografiese aspekte, sosiale infrastruktuur en dienste, indiensneming en inkome, behuising en ontwikkeling, infrastruktuurvoorsiening sowel as die SSP se betrokkenheid by die gemeenskappe van die Groter Saldanha en omgewing.

Thesis ((MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: After many years of fragmentation and inequity, the new housing policy envisages "the establishment and maintenance of habitable, stable and sustainable public and private environments to ensure viable households and communities in areas allowing convenient access to economic opportunities, and to health, educational and social amenities" (Housing White Paper, 1994:21). It appears, however, given the size of the housing backlog (currently estimated by the Housing Minister at 2,8 million units) and the general form housing provision has taken, that the overall vision of what should be accomplished through housing development have taken the backseat to rapid housing production in the country. In practice, inhabitants of recently undertaken housing projects are to a large extent still denied access to the city and its opportunities. Recent housing projects reflect government's view that the solution to the housing problem lies in the packaged production of physical housing units, choosing to define the housing problem only in terms of "housing production and technical and engineering efficiency " (Noero, 2000: 1). This approach have been described by Noero as being naive and criticised for its ability to be counterproductive by failing to address the full spectrum of needs in the lives of people. The limited definition of housing further stands in opposition to the extensive definition of housing found in policy documents. This study, with the help of a case study of one such housing project, explored some of the dominant issues surrounding current housing provision in South Africa, and the problems associated with it. It sought to establish that current housing provision is far removed from the overall aims and objectives set out for housing development by the new housing policy. This study considered some ways of bringing housing delivery closer to the vision of housing as an engine of growth and change. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Na vele jare van fragmentasie en ongelykheid, voorsien die nuwe behuisingsbeleid "die vestiging en onderhoud van bewoonbare, stabiele en volhoubare private en publieke omgewings vir die skepping van lewensvatbare huishoudings en gemeenskappe in gebiede wat maklike toegang verseker tot ekonomiese geleeenthede, en tot gesondheids-, opvoedings- en sosiale geriewe" (Witskrif op Behuising, 1994:21). Dit blyk egter, in die lig van die geweldige behuisingsagterstand (wat tans deur die Minister van Behuising op 2,8 miljoen eenhede beraam word) en die vorm wat behuisingsvoorsiening tans aanneem, dat die versnelde produksie van huise geprioritiseer word ten koste van die visie van wat behuisingsvoorsiening in Suid-Afrika eintlik moet bereik. In die praktyk word die inwoners van behuisingprojekte wat onlangs onderneem is, steeds tot 'n groot mate ontneem van die stad en sy geleenthede. Onlangse behuisingsprojekte reflekteer die siening van die regering dat die oplossing tot die behuisingsprobleem in die produksie van fisiese wooneenhede lê, en vervolgens die definisie van behuising slegs in terme van "die produksie daarvan en die gangbaarheid in terme van tegniese en ingenieursaspekte" (Noero, 2000: 1). Hierdie benadering word deur Noero beskryf as naief en word gekritiseer vir die vermoë daarvan om teenproduktief te wees deur nie die volle spekrum van behoeftes in mense se lewens in ag te neem nie. Hierdie beperkte definisie van behuising staan verder in teenstelling met die uitgebreide definisie van behuising wat in beleidsdokumente aangetref word. In die studie, met behulp van 'n gevallestudie van een so 'n behuisingsprojek, word die dominante kwessies rondom behuisingsvoorsiening in Suid-Afrika en die probleme daar rondom, verken. Daar word gepoog om te illusteer dat huidige behuisingsvoorsiening verwyderd is van die vernaamste doelstellings van die nuwe behuisingsbeleid. Die studie het maniere oorweeg om behuisingsvoorsiening nader te bring aan die visie van behuising as 'n katalisator vir groei en verandering.

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: More than half of the population of Southern Africa live in rural areas and lead a marginal existence. They are dependant on natural resources that are to their disposal for their survival. The resources that they use are renewable but are currently exploited faster that it can be replaced. The pressure that the rural populations are placing on nature cannot be sustained. The concept of "sustainable development" came into being in 1987. The principle of this new concept was to permit development as to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development proposes a lifestyle that preserve nature as well as social and cultural characteristics of a community. The tourism industry of Southern Africa has great potential and is still growing. Ecotourism, the idea of nature based tourism that will benefit both the socio-economic circumstances of the community and conservation, have increased in the past ten years. If ecotourism is managed correctly, it can be the answer to poverty in many rural communities and at the same time conserving nature. There are organisations that concentrate on sustainable rural development and that introduce communities to the potentials and benefits of the tourism industry. There are already communities that adopted this new paradigm with great success. The aim of this study is to make people conscious to the problem of rural poverty and the impacts it has had on the environment already. Secondly the study also presents a solution to rural poverty by the development of tourism in rural communities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Meer as die helfte van Suider-Afrika se bevolking leef in landelike gebiede en voer 'n marginale bestaan. Hulle is aangewese op die natuurlike hulpbronne wat tot hulle beskikking is vir hulle voortbestaan. Die hulpbronne is hernubaar maar word tans vinniger verbruik as wat dit vervang word. Die druk wat die arm landelike bevolking op die natuur plaas kan nie volgehou word nie. In 1987 het die begrip "volhoubare ontwikkeling" die lig gesien. Die beginsel van die konsep is om ontwikkeling te laat geskied sodat daar aan die behoeftes van die hede voldoen word sonder om die behoeftes van die toekomstige geslagte te belemmer. Volhoubare ontwikkeling stel 'n lewenswyse voor wat nie net die natuur preserveer nie, maar ook die sosiale en kulturele sy van 'n gemeenskap. Die toerismebedryf in Suider-Afrika het baie potensiaal, en is steeds besig om te groei. Ekotoerisme, die idee van natuur-gebasseerde toerisme wat kan bydra tot die verbetering van sosio-ekonomiese toestande en bewaring van die omgewing, het toegeneem in die laaste tien jaar. Indien ekotoerisme reg bestuur word, kan dit vir 'n groot deel van die landelike bevolking 'n uitkoms tot armoede bied terwyl die natuur bewaar word. Daar is organisasies wat konsentreer op volhoubare landelike ontwikkeling en wat die gemeenskap bekend stel aan die voordele en potensiaal van die toerismebedryf. Daar het reeds verskeie gemeenskappe betrokke geraak in die toerismebedryf met groot welsae. Hierdie studie is 'n oorsig van bestaande literatuur oor die rol van toerisme en spesifiek, ekotoerisme in volhoubare ontwikkeling in landelike dele.

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An ever changing urban environment, limited economic opportunities and rising poverty, have brought into sharp relief the need for strategies that support the livelihoods of the poor. Urban areas are complex and dynamic systems. No town or city is immune from either external forces (globalisation) that dictate the need to adapt, or to internal pressures (the natural growth pattern of an urban population and rural-urban migration) that collectively can precipitate growth or decline. The formal sector cannot, in most instances, fulfil the need for secure, regular employment in the urban areas, which leads to increases in unemployment, gradual breakdown of basic services - visual evidence includes large squatter settlements in and around urban centres - and the not unlikely increase in food insecurity. There is no doubt that the future of urban centres is dependent on the effective absorption of the increasing number of urban dwellers into its environmental, economical and social structures, and public policy plays an important role in the success of this process. The important contribution of urban agriculture in bolstering food security of urban households raises critical planning issues. The spatial integration of our settlements is critical; it holds the potential to enhance economic efficiency and social development. Spatial strategies should be combined with economic and environmental programmes to form an integrated approach towards development. Urban agriculture could possibly catalyse broader developmental processes such as local economic development, whereby disadvantaged communities could potentially secure the benefits of employment and increase food security. The provision of opportunities for urban agriculture not only makes it possible to meet the food needs of the urban poor, but to also ensure sustainable human settlements. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die lig van 'n dinamiese stedelike omgewing, beperkte ekonomiese geleenthede en toenemende armoede, beklemtoon die nood aan strategieë wat die arm stedelike gemeenskap bevoordeel. Stedelike gebiede is ingewikkelde en dinamiese sisteme. Geen dorp of stad is vrygeskeld van eksterne invloede (globalisasie), óf van interne invloede (die natuurlike groeipatroon in 'n stedelike gebied en migrasie van platteland na stede) wat kollektief groei of verval van stede kan aanhits. Die formele sektor kan in die meeste gevalle nie aan die behoefte van vaste werksaanstelling in stedelike gebiede voldoen nie. Dit lei tot 'n toename in werkloosheid en die geleidelike afbreek in fundamentele basiese dienste - ooglopende bewys hiervan sluit die groot plakkerskampe in en om stedelike sentrums - en die nie onwaarskynlike toename in voedseltekorte. Daar is geen twyfel dat die toekoms van stedelike sentrums afhanklik is van die absorpsie van toenemende stedelinge in hul omgewings-, ekonomiese- en sosiale strukture, en openbare beleid speel 'n kardinale rol in die suksesvolle verloop van hierdie proses. Die belang van die bydrae van stedelike landbou tot die rugsteuning van versekering van voedselsekuriteit in stedelike huishoudings kompliseer beplanning geweldig. Die ruimtelike integtrasie van ons nedersettings is belangrik; dit het die potensiaal om ekonomiese vaardigheid en sosiale ontwikkeling te verbeter. Strategieë om ruimte te optimaliseer behoort gekombineer te word met ekonomiese- en omgewingsprogramme, om sodoende geïntigreerde benaderings tot ontwikkeling te vorm. Stedelike landbou kan moontlik n katalisator vir verreikende ontwikkelingsprosesse soos plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling wees, waar minder-bevoorregte gemeenskappe werksversekering en -geleenthede het en daar ook voedsel-sekuriteit is. Die voorsiening van geleenthede vir stedelike landbou maak dit nie net moontlik om die behoefte aan voedsel van minder-bevoorregte stedelinge te bevredig nie, maar verseker ook langdurige, volhoubare stedelike nedersettings.

This research set out to investigate the resilience of the Point Waterfront Development in Durban, South Africa, with regards to climate change. Considering that South Africa is a Third World country, the assumption was that Point Waterfront area would fall short of resilience when it comes to climate change. This research made use of primary and secondary data from the Point Waterfront case study. Primary data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders of the Waterfront development. These are The eThekwini Municipality Planning and Economic Development units, Laurusco Developments, Durban Point Development Company and the local Ward Committee and Councilor. Secondary data were obtained through recent publications in the form of municipal reports, newspapers, internet articles, and books had the relevant data on the resilience of Waterfront developments to climate change. Findings suggest that the Point Waterfront is relatively safe unless something of very extreme nature comes along in terms of sea level rise from the Indian Ocean. All the stakeholders are aware of what climate change might do to the development but the municipality is, the findings suggest, the only stakeholder that goes an extra mile as to improve the resilience of the Point Waterfront and of the city of Durban at large. There seems to be some irregularities when it comes to funds as the municipality does not have enough to tackle adaptation on its own. As a recommendation, waterfront developments should be approved only aftermeasures that enable them to be resilient to climate change have been put in place.Developers must ensure efforts to mainstream the issue of climate change adaptation. Policies should be put in place to formalize adaptation among residents. An example would be instituting a policy requiring every property to have a green roof. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

The purpose of this study is to uncover the extent, causes, and to find solutions to the decay in the inner city neighbourhood of Albert Park. The Albert Park area is at a stage where appropriate intervention is required to prevent the area from deteriorating further and to improve the quality of life for the people that live and work in the area. The sources used to carry out this study entailed researching various publications such as planning related books and journals to understand the dynamics of the inner city; urban renewal theories; and political and socio-economic theories. Newspaper articles and interviews of role players also informed the study. The research methods entailed a detailed study of the area where the researcher investigated the physical characteristics of each building in detail. These were defined as buildings in good, fair and poor condition. A systematic stratified sample was used to interview thirty residents from each building condition. The physical study of the area found that the area is presently experiencing a small pocket of decay. This is surrounded by buildings in fair condition, which are beginning to deteriorate to a state of disrepair and will soon become decayed if no intervention takes place. The questionnaire survey found that people throughout the area share similar requirements for the physical and socio-economic regeneration of the area. It was concluded that although the economic characterictics of the residents residing in buildings matched the physical condition of the building they occupied, the residents themselves were not responsible for the decay of apartments. The Albert Park area is being targeted mostly by poor people for residence close to employment opportunities. The decay in the area is the result of exploitation, by landlords and managers, of tenants as minor and major maintenance is not undertaken. The recommendations for Albert Park entail a holistic approach to the area's future development. The area is experiencing a cycle of change. This change is important for the area's residents and needs to be accommodated rather than stopped. The change in the area is allowing poorer people access to inner city housing which is limited at this time. It is also possible for people of different income groups to live together. This can be achieved through improving the physical condition of buildings and the area in general. The apartments in the area need minor and major renovations. It is also necessary for social planning as there is a high level of apathy among residents. There is also a need for crime to be stopped and more community facilities to be opened in the area. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 2001.