When the Government of National Unity (GNU) came to power in South Africa in 1994, it inherited a housing sector with severe abnormalities as a result of the policies and political turbulence of the apartheid era (Department of Housing/DOH, 2000a). One of the main problems was and is still the enormous housing backlog facing large sections of the country's population both in rural and urban areas. The housing crisis in South Africa has received extensive attention by the South African government, non-profit organizations and international actors such as research and aid organisations since the demise of apartheid. This shows the historical and present interest on the SUbject. The most significant development in housing policy in 1990 was the creation of the Independent Development Trust (lOT). The lOT, was a parastatal, a government created institution in 1991, which was to address the housing needs of the country's poor. As one form of housing subsidisation, housing consolidation subsidies have been used in housing projects for households to build new houses or improve existing structures on the serviced sites that were previously subsidized through the Independent Development Trust (lOT) in the 1990's. The realisation that between 20%-30% of beneficiaries do not take occupancy at the end of a specific project, has brought a serious concern to the Housing Department, local community structures and Project Managers. This study, focuses on the Durban Metropolitan Area; it intend to increase one's understanding of why consolidation housing projects only reach 70%-80% of intended beneficiaries on closure of the projects. The housing consolidation projects in Luganda and Savannah Park, Southern Pinetown, Durban, which are the sUbject of the present stUdy, were initiated in 1996 and 2000 respectively with the intent to deliver over 2000 houses in both study areas. These are being investigated. The study takes a form of a wholes tick approach and tries to make a link between the absent beneficiaries and those who informally transfer their property to new owners. The reason is simply that the 20-30% originally intended beneficiaries are not benefiting from the Consolidation Housing Subsidy. The study aims to look at alternative, cheaper and affordable ways of obtaining title deeds for people who have bought sites informally from the authentic officially recognised beneficiaries. Lastly, the study will contribute by data gathering and analysis, to the understanding of the phenomenon of low-occupancy and informal or de facto transfer of property. / Thesis (M.Housing)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

This dissertation aimed at establishing the extent to which eThekwini Municipality aligned its Inner City projects to principles for urban regeneration and spatial planning objectives as outlined in the City’s Integrated Development Plan. The study makes reference to two distinctive inner city precincts; examining what led to current state of each precinct, through political, economic, environmental and social transformation. The Central Business District is looked at as a prime example of a degenerated space within the city and the Kings Park Sporting Precinct is looked at as an example of a successful regeneration endeavour within Durban. Information was obtained through primary and secondary sources. The bulk of the information gathered was through key informant interviews, shop keeper interviews, site visits, official reports and from eThekwini Municipality Shape File Data on the Geographical Information System. Through the analysis of data collected, the study found that eThekwini Municipality’s efforts to regenerate the Durban CBD have not been successful to date. The CBD is still in a severe state of urban decay with sustainable development only occurring in areas that are controlled by the elite. The study also found that the Kings Park Sporting Precinct has undergone extensive regeneration and proves to be a great asset to Durban for present and future generations. Its success however, also carries social challenges with the common perception that the precinct is an exclusive space. Almost 20 years post democracy, the eThekwini Municipality, is still struggling to maintain the integrity of its Inner City. Parts of the Inner City have improved but there and other parts that are still subject to extreme urban decay. The study makes recommendations for the economic, environmental and social improvement of the Durban CBD and for the social enhancement of the Kings Park Sporting Precinct. / M.T.R.P. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2013.

Across the globe, both developed and developing countries strive to continuously increase economic growth. Many strategies have been developed to guide these countries towards achieving growth and development in a sustainable manner. For many of these countries, cites have become the hubs with regards to the various socio-economic activities taking place within countries. This has in turn subjected cities to tremendous growth. The increased growth of cities has been characterized by radial expansion, wherein development spreads out from the city center to the fringes. The radial expansion of cities has not always been under control or properly managed by government or the private sector as well as the relevant role playing stakeholders. Many socio-economic and environmental challenges have been associated with the rapid urban development that spreads into urban fringes. This dissertation focuses on assessing the sustainability of urban fringes and their developments. It presents a conceptual framework that tackles multiple urban fringe challenges and their various causes as well as the possible solutions thereof. It also focuses on empirically assessing the sustainability of the Cato Ridge urban fringe development in eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province. The study discovers that the challenges of urban fringe development are economic, social and environmental. It concludes with recommendations for addressing policies of urban fringe developments in order to ensure sustainability. / M.T.R.P. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2013.

This research sought to examines how Integrated Development Planning has been used as an approach for improving infrastructure service delivery in historically disadvantaged communities. It examines the extent to which integrated development planning has been used to facilitate infrastructure provision in KwaNyuswa. It identifies key development challenges that are currently faced by the eThekwini Municipality in its attempts to accelerate infrastructure service delivery in KwaNyuswa. Both secondary and primary sources of data were used to source information. Key experts and community members were interviewed to supplement data from secondary sources. It was found that KwaNyuswa has a large proportion of Durban Metro Open Space, riverines and steep divided topography which constraint infrastructure provision in the area. Nevertheless, EThekwini Municipality has to a large extent managed to provide affordable services such as water and electricity in KwaNyuswa. Despite this success, roads and transportation networks have not been upgraded especially in sub-settlements called “Izigodi” and no Reconstruction and Development Programme Houses have been constructed since 1994. The study has identified a rural planning scheme, the affordable service delivery strategy, human capital development programme and nodal development strategies as solutions to enhance infrastructure provision in KwaNyuswa. Lessons learnt were identified jointly with recommendations to make Integrated Development Planning work in KwaNyuswa. / M.T.R.P. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2013.

This research study addresses the issues associated with lost and wasted urban spaces. Lost and wasted spaces refer to areas which have no human activity or proper human interaction. They are the leftover unstructured landscape at the base of buildings. They also include abandoned buildings, waterfronts, train yards, vacated military sites, and industrial complexes. The research outlines the causes of lost and wasted urban spaces which occur within the eThekwini Municipality and urbanised spaces in general. Through the use of case studies and precedent studies, the research study investigates the various techniques, technological advances and approaches that could alleviate wasted spaces in the city. The Durban Esplanade and Point Waterfront development constitute the main case study areas; however, to fully understand how and why lost and wasted spaces occur within the urban environment, various other spaces which make up the cityscape were also investigated. For example, the city transport infrastructure and green spaces do not form part of the case studies, but have been included as part of the research into lost and wasted spaces. The research study seeks to take the issue of lost and wasted urban spaces a step further by combining it with issues related to sustainability. Through the use of the case studies, various possible solutions and alternatives to the alleviation of lost and wasted urban spaces are outlined and investigated. Examples of how lost and wasted urban spaces could be transformed from problem areas to spaces of opportunity are also explored. This was achieved by making use of computer-aided design and graphic illustrations to indicate the possible solutions that could form part of a holistic approach to the issues surrounding lost and wasted spaces in the built environment. The current planning legislation is outlined in order to provide a thorough understanding of the interconnection between environmental and sustainability issues which relate directly to the cause of lost and wasted spaces. Furthermore, the research study highlights the involvement of various built environment disciplines, including planners, architects and urban designers and investigates their role in the alleviation of lost and wasted urban space. / M.T.R.P. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Internationally a reconciliation of man and nature is taking place in environmental management, a movement in the direction of sustain ability. This movement also developed in South Africa, but against the background of the characteristics of the post-Apartheid phase in which the country is still at present. Various development programmes are undertaken in the name of sustainability, while in actual practice the full potential of existing environmental management tools for proactive, integrated environmental management and therefore the assurance of sustainability are not employed. In the time of rapid change in which South Africa is at present, it is important that an integrated, holistic, proactive, multi-disciplinary approach should be followed in environmental management. It is also important that the public should form part of the events, so that a learning process can take place in which shared visions and objectives for sustainable development can be identified. In the this study it was found that the model of the biosphere reserve offers a mechanism for planning based on public participation and the proactive demarcation of zones for the different functions of it. The concept of a biosphere reserve has various characteristics which give it the potential to offer a good framework for environmental management, if it can be executed in an integrated way. From the case study it is clear that there are various stumbling-blocks for the implementation of the biosphere reserve concept in South Africa. The country is therefore in the process of forming co-ordinating bodies on provincial as well as national level with the purpose of addressing several of these stumbling-blocks. Moss (2000) said the following at a seminar in this regard: "Rather than forming islands in a world increasingly affected by severe human impacts, they can become theatres for reconciling people and nature; they can bring knowledge of the past to the needs of the future". / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Internasionaal vind daar in omgewingsbestuur 'n versoening van die mens en natuur plaas, 'n beweging in die rigting van volhoubaarheid. Hierdie beweging het ook in Suid-Afrika posgevat, maar teen die agtergrond van die eienskappe van die post- Apartheidsfase waarin die land steeds is. Verskeie ontwikkelingsprogramme word in die naam van volhoubaarheid aangepak, terwyl daar in die praktyk nie van die volle potensiaal van die bestaande instrumente vir pro-aktiewe, geïntegreerde omgewingsbestuur en dus die versekering van volhoubaarheid gebruik gemaak word nie. In die tyd van vinnige verandering waarin Suid-Afrika tans is, is dit belangrik dat 'n geïntegreerde, holistiese, pro-aktiewe, multi-dissiplinêre benadering in omgewingsbestuur gevolg word. Verder is dit ook nodig dat die publiek deel van die gebeure sal wees sodat daar 'n leerproses kan plaasvind waarin gesamentlike visies en doelwitte vir volhoubare ontwikkeling geïdentifiseer kan word. In die hierdie studie is bevind dat die biosfeerreservaat-model 'n beplanningsmeganisme bied wat op publieke deelname en die pro-aktiewe afbakening van sones vir die verskillende funksies daarvan gebaseer is. Die biosfeerreservaatkonsep het verskeie eienskappe wat die potensiaal daaraan gee om 'n goeie raamwerk te bied vir omgewingsbestuur, indien dit geïntegreerd gedoen word. Uit die gevallestudie is dit egter duidelik dat daar verskeie struikelblokke vir die implementering van die biosfeerreservaat-konsep in Suid-Afrika is. Die land is steeds in die proses van vorming van koordineringsliggame op provinsiale en nasionale vlak ten einde hierdie struikelblokke aan te spreek. Moss (2000) het tydens 'n seminaar daaroor die volgende gesê: "Rather than forming islands in a world increasingly affected by severe human impacts, they can become theaters for reconciling people and nature; they can bring knowledge of the past to the needs of the future".

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 (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: All cities experience urban deterioration in some form or other. This deterioration is caused by many, diverse factors. The deterioration leads to a loss of investment in the city and a downward cycle where the causes and consequences of urban deterioration can strengthen each other. South Africa's fast population growth cause several problems for the country. One of these problems is suburban expansion, which creates urban sprawl; with its associated problem of ineffective land utilisation. Urban renewal can be applied to address urban deterioration and utilise Brownfield sites, which are derelict or underused sites; instead of Greenfield sites, which are sites that have not been previously developed. It has been found that South African policy still benefit the development of Greenfield sites. Urban renewal can be used as a tool to address South Africa's unequal development and opportunities among the different races by improving the people's living conditions. Development starts with human development. This study gives a historical and theoretical overview of the urban renewal field of study. After the review of various authors and four case studies in Cape Town and Johannesburg, it can be concluded that the urban renewal process can be approached through various methods and should be included in any city's spatial development framework. The potential roles local government can play were identified as being to implement a communitybased redevelopment approach, designing area-specific strategies where redevelopment is feasible and making grants and tax incentives available. Local governments could also be involved in public-private partnerships. The role of the planner within the renewal process has also increased to that of assessing the need and justification for urban renewal; initiating the projects; negotiating between various role players; implementing the projects; and monitoring the success thereof. Special focus was given to gentrification in Cape Town and it was found that displacement of the original residents does indeed occur. The question within a free market economy is whether the authority should interfere in this process or not, especially with regard to historic and culturally sensitive areas such as Bo-Kaap. This could possibly be motivated as being in the "public interest" in the above case Recommendations were that a community-based redevelopment approach should be followed; physical and social rehabilitation should be integrated; demolition and displacement must be avoided; and resources must be allocatd to neighbourhoods rather than individuals. Projects must also be an intense, short termed action, using local institutions for implementation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Enige stad ondervind stedelike verval in een of ander vorm. Hierdie agteruitgang word veroorsaak deur verskeie, uiteenlopende faktore. Stedelike verval lei tot 'n verlies aan investering in die stad en word gevolg deur 'n afwaartse siklus waar die oorsake en gevolge van stedelike verval mekaar versterk. Suid Afrika se snelle bevolkingsgroei veroorsaak verskeie probleme. Een van dié probleme is voorstedelike uitbreiding wat stadskruip veroorsaak; met die geassosieerde probleem van oneffektiewe benutting van grond. Stedelike hernuwing kan aangewend word om stedelike verval aan te spreek, en die benutting van "Brownfield" terreine, wat vervalle, onderbenutte areas is; instede van "Greenfield" terreine, wat voorheen onontwikkelde terreine is, aan te moedig. Dit is gevind dat Suid Afrikaanse beleid steeds die ontwikkeling van "Greenfield" terreine aanmoedig. Stedelike hernuwing kan ook gebruik word as 'n instrument om Suid Afrika se ongelyke ontwikkeling en geleenthede, tussen die verskille rasse, aan te spreek deur die mense se lewens omstandighede te verbeter. Ontwikkeling begin by die huis. Hierdie studie gee 'n historiese en teoretiese oorsig van die stedelike hernuwing studiegebied, met die klem op residensiële hernuwing. Nadat die literatuur van verskeie skrywers, voorbeelde en gevallestudies in Kaapstad en Johannesburg ondersoek is, kan die gevolgtrekking gemaak word dat die stedelike hernuwingsproses aangepak kan word deur verskeie metodes. Stedelike hernuwing behoort ook by elke dorp se ruimtelike ontwikkelingsraamwerk ingesluit te wees. Die potensiële rolle van plaaslike owerhede is gevind om te wees: die implementering van 'n gemeenskap-gebaseerde herontwikkelings benadering; die ontwerp van area-spesifieke strategieë waar herontwikkeling uitvoerbaar is; en die beskikbaarstelling van toegewing en belasting aansporings. Plaaslike regerings kan ook betrokke wees in publieke-private vennootskappe. Die rol van die beplanner binne die hernuwingsproses het ook vergroot tot die bepaling van die behoefte en regverdiging van stedelike hernuwing; inisiëring van projekte; onderhandelings tussen die verskillende rolspelers; implementering van die projekte; en die monitering van die projek se sukses. Daar is spesiale aandag gegee aan die gentrifikasie ("gentrification") proses in Kaapstad waar daar gevind is dat die oorspronklike inwoners wel verplaas word in die proses. Die vraag binne 'n vrye mark ekonomie is of owerhede moet inmeng in die proses of nie, veral met betrekking tot historiese en kultureel sensitiewe areas soos Bo-Kaap. Dit kon moontlik gemotiveer wees as om in die "openbare belang" te wees in bogenoemde geval. Voorstelle wat gemaak was, is dat 'n gemeenskaps-gebaseerde herontwikkelings benadering gevolg moet word; fisiese en sosiale rehabilitasie moet geintegreer word; sloping en verplasing moet vermy word; en hulpbronne moet toegeken word aan woonbuurtes eerder as individue. Projekte moet ook 'n intens, kort termyn aksie wees en plaaslike institusies vir die implementering gebruik.

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Informal street trading is an aspect with which South Africa's ever growing cities need to cope. Since the earliest times, trade has played an important role in creating livelihoods for many people. In today's society - characterised by unemployment and underdevelopment - informal street traders have recognised that there is a gap in the market, and thus, by plying their trade they created a sustainable livelihood for themselves. It has to be admitted that town planning over the years neglected the role of the informal street trader, and not much was done by way of creating a city sphere to accommodate the street trader. In chapter two of this study the discussion addresses the historical role and activities of the informal street trader, and surveys aspects of legislation and racism that played a prominent role in previous times. Authorities did not regard informal trading in a positive light and many harsh steps were taken against street traders. This provides one of the reasons why no latitude was granted to informal street trading and why South Africa's existing efforts to accommodate informal street trade could at best be described as dismal. In chapter three the role and extent of informal trading in the economy is discussed. A study was made of the possible reasons why the informal street trade has emerged, and the contribution of the informal trade towards South Africa's Gross Domestic Product, is also dealt with. Today informal street trade is viewed as one of the ways by means of which to alleviate South Africa's existing employment crisis and accommodation of the informal street trade is seen as a top priority. When considering the phenomenon of informal street trading, it is impossible to ignore the people who are involved in this sector. They have created not only jobs for themselves, but a sustainable way of living. Chapter four attends to the characteristics of the informal street trader and also addresses the problems and challenges that these people have to face. Addressing these problems or challenges is not an easy task, and one of-the major problems in this respect has been the question of legislation. Informal street trading needs to be directed through laws and policies, aimed at addressing traders' needs and which are proactive in creating a positive trading environment. In chapters five and six the legislation and regulation of informal street trading in three of South Africa's major metropolitan cities - Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban - are reported. Chapter seven contains the conclusions of the study, followed by some policy recommendations. These are based on the findings made in the study on informal street trading, and could possibly enhance the proactive control and development of informal street trading. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Informele straathandel is 'n verskynsel wat volop in Suid-Afrikaanse stede voorkom. Handel is verantwoordelik vir die skep van werksgeleenthede en in vandag se samelewing, wat gekarakteriseer word deur armoede en werkloosheid, bied informele straathandel 'n uitweg aan menige persone om In bestaan te voer. Deur die jare het stadsbeplanning nie die nodige aandag aan die informele straathandelsektor gegee nie en meeste Suid-Afrikaanse stede kan nie hierdie tipe aktiwiteit suksesvol akkommodeer me. In hoofstuk twee van hierdie studie word daar ondersoek ingestel na die historiese agtergrond en aktiwiteite van die informele straathandelaar en word kwessies soos wetgewing en rasisme aangespreek. Owerhede het tydens die vorige bedeling nie die straathandel as 'n positiewe aspek van Suid-Afrika se groeiende stede beskou nie en sterk maatreels is teen straathandelaars gene em. Weens hierdie stappe en aksies, het dit gelei tot 'n stedelike omgewing wat nie straathandelaars vandag kan akkommodeer nie, en word dit ook as die rede beskou waarom huidige pogings tot die akkommodasie van straathandel nie as besonder suksesvol beskou kan word nie. In hoofstuk drie word die rol en mate waartoe informele straathandel tot die land se ekonomie bydra, bespreek. Die moontlike redes is ondersoek om die ontstaan van die informele straathandelsektor te identifiseer, en ook is gekyk na die bydraes wat die straathandel tot Suid-Afrika se Bruto Binnelandse Produk maak. Vandag word die informele straathandel as 'n moontlike oplossing vir armoede en werkloosheid in Suid- Afrika beskou en word die ontwikkeling van die sektor as 'n top prioriteit hanteer. Daar is ook ondersoek ingestel na die mense wat betrokke is in informele straathandel. Hierdie deel van die bevolking was in staat om op 'n volhoubare manier werk vir hulself te skep. Hoofstuk vier stel ondersoek in na die kenmerke van die informele straathandelaars en kyk ook na die daaglikse probleme en uitdagings wat hierdie mense beleef. Om hierdie probleme en uitdagings te bowe te kom, is nie eenvoudig nie, maar die grootste probleem vir straathandelaars spruit voort uit wetgewing oor die sektor. Informele straathandel benodig rigtinggewende w.etgewing en beleid wat die sektor se behoeftes en probleme aanspreek en ook 'n positiewe omgewing vir die straathandelaars skep om in te werk. Hoofstukke vyf en ses stel ondersoek in na die bestaande wetgewing oor informele straathandel, soos dit aangetref word in drie van Suid-Afrika se grootste stede, Kaapstad, Port Elizabeth en Durban. In hoofstuk sewe word die gevolgtrekking en beleidsvoorstelle rondom die bevindings van die studie gemaak. Dit sal dan moontlik lei tot die bevordering en skep van 'n gunstige en pro-aktiewe omgewing waarbinne informele straathandel kan floreer.

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study considers the possibility of using special management areas at metropolitan level as a measure to control urban sprawl in South Africa, and specifically in the greater Cape Town area. Important issues included in the study are: international and local measures currently and previously used, relevant South African legislation that support urban edge protection, economic and ethical theories regarding urban edge protection, the measures currently implemented in Stellenbosch, an examination of special management areas and recommendations. International attempts in curbing urban sprawl dates back to post-Industrial Revolution Europe (1800s). British and American measures are compared, mostly differing in the level of public support of sustainable development. Local attempts have been limited and have not been implemented at the scale of international measures. Recently developed policies such as the Metropolitan Spatial Development Framework (1996) and the Bioregional Planning Framework (2000) are more directly focussed on sustainable development than previous policies (e.g. guide plans and structure plans) have been. The Metropolitan Spatial Development Framework proposes the demarcation of urban edges in the Cape Metropolitan Region, while the Bioregional Planning Framework is intent on dividing the Western Cape Province into bioregions. The Bioregional Planning Framework originated the use of special management areas to control development in rural (agricultural and natural) areas. The idea of this study is to measure the feasibility of using special management areas at metropolitan level, in conjunction with both the Metropolitan Spatial Development Framework and the Bioregional Planning Framework, to protect the urban edge. This study concludes by disproving its hypothesis: special management areas have limited applicability as a general urban edge control measure at metropolitan level. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie oorweeg die moontlike gebruik van spesiale bestuursareas in Suid-Afrika, en spesifiek in die groter Kaapstad gebied as maatreël vir die bekamping van stadskruip. Belangrike kwessies wat in hierdie studie ingesluit word is: internasionale en plaaslike maatreëls wat tans en in die verlede gebruik is om stadsgrense the beskerm, relevante Suid- Afrikaanse wetgewing wat die beskerming van stadsgrense ondersteun, toepaslike ekonomiese en etiese teorieë, maatreëls wat tans deur Stellenbosch geïmplementeer word, 'n ondersoek na spesiale bestuursareas, en voorstelle vir toekomstige beleid. Internasionale pogings om stadskruip te bekamp dateer uit die post-Industriële Revolusie era in Europa (1800s). Britse en Amerikaanse maatreëls is vergelyk. Die mees merkbare verskil tussen dié twee lande lê in die vlak van openbare steun vir volhoubare ontwikkeling. Die omvang van plaaslike pogings was in die verlede beperk tot gids- en struktuurplanne, wat nie veel beskerming aan die rand van die stad gebied het nie. Beleide wat onlangs ontwikkel is (die Metropolitaanse Ruimtelike Ontwikkelingsraamwerk en die Biostreekbeplanningsraamwerk) fokus meer direk op volhoubare ontwikkeling as hul voorgangers. Die Metropolitaanse Ruimtelike Ontwikkelingsraamwerk (1996) stel die afbakening van stadsgrense voor, terwyl die Biostreekbeplanningsraamwerk (2000) voorstel dat die Wes- Kaapse Provinsie in biostreke verdeel word. Die Biostreekbeplanningsraamwerk het oorspronklik die gebruik van spesiale bestuursareas voorgestel om ontwikkeling in landelike (landbou en natuurlike) gebiede te beheer. Die idee van hierdie studie is om die uitvoerbaarheid van die gebruik van spesiale bestuursareas op metropolitaanse vlak, saam met die Metropolitaanse Ruimtelike Ontwikkelingsraamwerk en die Biostreekbeplanningsraamwerk, te bepaal. Hierdie studie sluit af deur die hipotese verkeerd te bewys: spesiale bestuursareas het beperkte toepaslikheid as algemene stadsgrens beheermaatreëlop metropolitaanse vlak.