The thesis proposed to critique the neo-liberal perspective on regional policy in South Africa, and its emphasis on areas of strength and advantage, on two grounds. First, that it neglects processes of economic restructuring, and the possibility of place-specific decline or vulnerability. However, South Africa's increasing exposure to international markets, ongoing economic crisis, and political change, provide a context in which such conditions are likely. Secondly , these concerns are marginalised through the assumption that households can and do move out of areas experiencing restructuring or decline , or from places with weak economic bases. This assumption, however, ignores the limits to mobility in the current conjuncture, and the role of place in survival. The thesis critiques these arguments theoretically, and empirically - through a brief examination of the dynamics of restructuring and migration in KwaZulu-Natal, and a more detailed analysis of the case of Newcastle . The study of KwaZulu-Natal shows broad patterns of restructuring over the century, and points to new forms of instability in the 1990s. The research demonstrates that Newcastle has experienced several rounds of restructuring. While aggregate employment was relatively stable by the end of the 1980s, there had been a significant shift in the nature of economic activity and the composition of employment. Further rounds of restructuring coupled with employment decline - occurred in the 1990s, and key industrial sectors are shown to be vulnerable. The study of migration shows that, while there is a relationship between urbanisation and economic development in KwaZulu-Natal, there are also exceptions to it, with people remaining in, and even moving to places with weak or declining economic bases. The research did not find a complete, disjuncture ' between urbanisation and economic development in Newcastle. However, as, a consequence of past investments in place and limited opportunities elsewhere, low-income households remained in Newcastle despite restructuring. The study therefore shows that restructuring and place-vulnerability are concerns in South Africa, and that migration cannot be relied upon as a corrective. These findings underpin the need for a renewed consideration of social concerns within regional policy, and for moving beyond the 'efficiency' versus 'equity' dichotomy. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 1997.

This study presents a framework for assessing settlement patterns and trends to guide sustainable settlement development planning in South Africa. The rationale for the study is the persistence of multi-faceted interrelated, settlement challenges. At the beginning of the post-apartheid period in 1994, the new democratic government in South Africa adopted progressive policies to promote sustainable human settlements that integrate the various facets of human activity such as transportation, housing and socio-economic facilities. However, unsustainable and inefficient patterns of apartheid era planning persist more than 15 years into the post-apartheid settlements. Compounding this situation are new, unsustainable emerging trends such as the peripheral location of mono-functional low income housing developments in cities. This study argues that the main reason for the persistence of settlement challenges is the absence of comprehensive frameworks for the formulation of sustainable development plans that are informed by substantive theory, best practice and also the dialectical relationship among various settlement facets. It therefore develops a new framework and model for assessing settlement patterns and trends to guide sustainable development plans. The operational method is informed by a new synthetic theory of settlement patterns and trends, application of the theory to international and local patterns of policies and dynamics, empirical synthetic techniques for assessing settlement patterns and trends including the deductive formulation of sustainable development plans in localities, based on these interrelated components of the framework and model. Empirical synthetic techniques for the practical assessment of settlement patterns and trends are based on the translation of key theories and concepts of the synthetic theory into measurables. The synthetic empirical techniques use EThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu Natal province, South Africa as the case study since the municipality contains settlement typologies and systems that are typical of the province. The analysis of EThekwini Metropolitan Municipality revealed that prevailing settlement patterns and trends are not sustainable. On the other hand the municipality‟s development plans are not responsive to the heterogeneous socio-economic characteristics of the population in different settlement typologies including Local Economic Development (LED) potentials in the nodes in different functional regions of the municipality. On these grounds, the research study proposes alternative sustainable settlement development plans for EThekwini Municipality. The thesis recommends a dialectical deductive formulation of development plans based on the new framework of assessing settlement patterns and trends developed by this research. As such socio-economic investment priorities must be informed by the potential of economic growth in different town centres and functional regions all the same being responsive to social, economic and physical characteristics of the population. Pro-growth and pro-poor LED strategies should also be adopted, depending on the nature and extent of heterogeneity in the factors of production in the different town centres and settlement typologies they serve. Therefore, sustainable development plans can be achieved in South Africa if this new framework and model is adopted to guide future settlement patterns and trends. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011

A varied literature has emerged assessing the history and principles of the SDI programme and its individual initiatives. Within the literature, a widespread critique has developed that views the SDIs as falling short in two crucial areas. First, the SDIs have, in general, had limited developmental impacts . Second, many of the initiatives failed to develop adequate institutional responses to the specific conditions they faced in their various localities. The study describes the Lubombo SDI and its anchor project, the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. It argues that the Lubombo SDI, from the outset, took institutions seriously with a long view of development. It did not seek to deliver large-scale investment in a short period. Rather, it focused on shifting the development fundamentals - including key aspects of the Lubombo region's institutional arrangements - and concentrating its resources on facilitating a major project capable of pulling the various agencies with a stake in the region's development onto a common platform. This concentration of effort, and the creation of a dedicated authority with a clear statutory mandate to promote development and conservation, has brought advances to an area where development was effectively blocked for many years. But the dynamic nature of the institutional environment remains a key challenge affecting the GSLWP and the execution of the Authority's mandate. The ability of the Authority to continue mediating the multiple tensions and complexities affecting the GSLWP will be crucial if the agenda first set by the Lubombo is to be carried forward in the coming years. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1995.

It is believed that housing designs and layout systems for crime prevention have either positive or negative implications on the actual prevention of crime. Therefore this research explores the exact implications that housing designs and layout systems have in relation to crime especially in neighborhoods of Durban. In this regard, the concepts, assumptions surrounding work on the field, including defensible space principles, crime prevention through environmental design and the housing design principles are thoroughly discussed. Various principles especially defensible space principles are emphasized in this study: Surveillance, territoriality, access control, image and milieu. Hence other supporting paradimes like housing design principles including housing structures, support activities and gated communities are highly elaborated. These analytical criteria were used to examine two neighboring residential areas characterized by different planning and design systems in the area of Woodlands in terms safety. The assessment is mainly a comparison of the gated residential neighbourhood and the non-gated residential neighbourhood. Procedurally the evaluation entails analyzing both areas in terms of layout and housing design, observing both areas in terms of behavior and reaction of residents within their areas and analyzing the views and perceptions of people living in both areas. The findings indicate that in comparing the two areas in terms of safety the gated residential neighbourhoods displays high level of safety as compared to the non-gated community. Overall housing design and layout systems for crime prevention have positive implications on crime reduction in residential areas. However different recommendations are made in an attempt to improve crime free housing designs in offering both real and perceived safety. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 2001.

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, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa has a housing backlog of approximately 900 000 houses. The government and non-government organizations tries to provide housing for the disadvantage people of our land through sustainable development in an attempt control the housing crises. This study makes the point that sustainable development not nessereraly means the same as acceptable development. In order to provide acceptable housing with in the contexts of sustainable development, it is necessary to give more in depth and equal consideration to the social, economical and environmental aspects of sustainable development. This study focus on what is meant by the above mentioned aspects of sustainable development and what the direct and indirect impacts will be if it is not taken into consideration during the planning and construction faze of low-cost housing. Even though this study doesn’t provide the solutions to providing acceptable housing, it does make a few suggestions on how to obtain acceptable housing, not only for the people directly involved but also for the greater community of South Africa. One of the suggestions that, according to this study, should strongly be considered is the use of alternative building methods such as straw and clay, not only for the obvious environmental benefits but also for the economical and social benefits. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika sit tans met ’n behuisings-agterstand van ongeveer 900 000 huise. Die regering en nie-regerings organinsasies poog om deur die proses van volhoubare ontwikkeling, lae-koste behuising vir die behoeftige mense van die land te voorsien om sodoende die behuisingskrisis aan te spreek. Hierdie werkstuk maak die standpunt dat volhoubare ontwikkeling nie noodwendig sinoniem is met aanvaarbare behuising nie. Om aanvaarbare behuising te voorsien moet die huise binne die raamwerk van volhoubare ontwikkeling gebou word, maar daar moet meer in diepte gekyk word na, en gelyke hoeveelheid aandag aan alle sosiale-, ekonomiese- en omgewingsfaktore gegee word. Die werkstuk kyk in diepte na wat bedoel word met bogenoemde drie aspekte van volhoubare ontwikkeling en wat die direkte en indirekte gevolge is as dit nie in ag geneem word tydens die beplannings- en konstruksiefases van lae-koste behuising nie. Alhoewel die werkstuk nie defnitiewe oplossings bied vir die voorsiening van aanvaarbare behuising nie, word ‘n paar voorstelle gemaak van hoe behuisingsprojekte meer aanvaarbaar gemaak kan word, nie net vir die begunstigdes en owerhede nie, maar ook vir die res van die samelewing. Een van die voorstelle wat volgens die werkstuk baie sterk oorweeg behoort te word, is dat alternatiewe boumetodes (soos strooibale en klei) gebruik moet word, nie net vir die van selfsprekende ekologiese voordele wat dit inhou nie, maar ook vir ekonomiese en sosiale voordele.