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.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

This dissertation addresses an age-old topic, but introduces some different insights. Overall, it is a sound piece of research that satisfies the requirements of a course work masters. Her topic is interesting in the context of a large-scale infrastructure project and the research questions are carefully formulated. The research method is appropriate and adequately described. In view of the (not unexpected) difficulties encountered with respondents in the field, she has made effective use of the sources that were available. The theoretical framework appears to cover most of the relevant literature; and is written in a coherent way. The description of the case study is clear. It presents a complex and fascinating set of stakeholders and daunting challenges for Planners attempting to mediate between macro, national scale infrastructure needs on the one hand, and on the other, social justice in communities where the prevailing laws and practices militate against women and the poorly educated. The findings are reported in chapter 4. These provide a valuable insight into dynamics within and surrounding the participation process. In the course of this chapter, she unveils an interesting array of issues, many of which are about power relations. This makes the topic difficult to research fully in the context of an MTRP dissertation. However, while not achieving much analytical depth, she has produced a useful set if insights that will be of value to other researchers in this field. The conclusions and recommendations have been dealt with in a systematic, yet thoughtful manner. / Thesis (M.Arch)-University of Natal, 2001.

This research work evaluates the quality of built housing environment and the improvement of the quality of life for the beneficiary communities under the South African Housing Policy. It pays special reference to the Case Study of Waterloo and Quarry Heights within the jurisdiction of Durban Unicity. In order to assess the quality of built housing environment whether it has a potential to improve the quality of life for the client communities the researcher set indicators which are: Integrated planned housing environment, residential quality, suitable building material, secured housing environments, standard of dwelling units, housing environment with economic infrastructure, housing environment that allows fleXibility and extension, and housing environment that has got development infrastructure and social services. These indicators are used in this study as important tool in evaluating the quality of built housing environment. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of Natal, 2002.

This study was conducted in the rural community of Makhabeleni in Kranskop. This community is under the traditional leadership of Inkosi M Dlomo. One of the Development projects undertaken is the rural housing subsidy scheme, implemented through the Provincial Department of Housing in KwaZulu-Natal. A random sample of 30 respondents was drawn from a population of local residents who are already occupying the constructed houses. The study aims at highlighting the implications of lack of integration of sustainable livelihoods approach in rural housing projects. It argues that the packaging of rural housing projects should incorporate both sustainable livelihoods and community participation approaches. These approaches in housing development should not only focus on the top structure or the shelter, but on other factors, such as infrastructure, electrification, agriculture water and sanitation services. Such an integrated and holistic approach requires proper co-ordination on the part of all stakeholders so as to create sustainable livelihoods and contribute in the elimination of poverty. The findings in this study are that local sustainable livelihoods are the way of life of people, therefore should be considered in the housing delivery process. The conclusion and recommendations drawn from the findings are that integrated rural housing development should be coordinated to promote sustainable livelihoods and local economic development initiatives. Such integration would have a ripple effect in attracting local people, who work in urban areas, to return to their rural communities and invest in housing and also improve the housing conditions in their communities. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 2001.

This research investigates the impacts of construction skills acquired by the beneficiaries who participated in the construction of housing in the three case studies used in this study; the housing policy also assumes such a connection. The study argues that the construction skills can assist training beneficiaries to acquire sustainable employment in the housing construction industry. The housing beneficiaries have however experienced the problem of being unable to make further housing completion due to various problems such as unemployment, low income, regulations and building standards. Therefore, the study also assumes that housing construction industry has a potentially pivotal role to play in providing sustainable employment to the training beneficiaries, which In turn allow them to generate income for housing improvements. The study uses two core-housing approaches (incremental and enabling), which emphasises the importance of construction skills to the training beneficiaries and are relevant to the South African Housing Policy. This study argues that the Housing Policy has a crucial role to play in construction skills acquisition during the construction of incremental housing projects. This study investigates the relationship among skills, employment and housing improvements of Hambanati, Mshayazafe and Waterloo areas in KwaZulu-Natal. A research In this study has been conducted for the purpose of highlighting realities regarding the impact of acquiring relevant construction skills through incremental housing projects. The research will enable the study to inform the government's current housing policy about the potential benefits of providing construction skills in the delivery of incremental housing. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, 2003.

The early industrialization and subsequent emergence of migrant labor system in South Africa disrupted conventional economic methods and social cohesion of society, particularly in the former rural homeland areas. Insufficient economic resources in villages pushed people to search for work in the urban areas. On the other hand, abundance of employment opportunities in the urban areas pulled people to venture into the cities. Apartheid control of out-migration from the rural areas added to this complexity. The system encouraged male migrants and placed restrictions on the migration of women to towns (Banks 2001:18). These conditions led to a host of social and economic problems that perpetuated poverty in rural areas. The coming to power of the African National Congress in 1994 has not significantly changed !hese dynamics. Two major problems emerged III rural areas. Traditional agriculture and livestock productions were replaced by heavy dependence of rural households on migrant remittances, which were often unreliable. Secondly, the migration of men forced rural women to develop their own strategies for income earning in order to support their families. In facing the challenges many women organized themselves into groups and made use of the available resources to establish income-generating projects (lGPs). Income generating projects are initiatives to generate income and employment in order to deal with the scourge of poverty. However, the projects are often too small to generate any meaningful income, particularly when viewed in relation to the time and effort invested on them. According to Muchena (1987:44), the projects are often within the realms ofwomen's traditional roles of sewing, knitting and baking. This study focuses on these projects. While IGPs sprung up as ways to alleviate poverty, there are questions as to their effectiveness. Mayoux (1989:1) states that, IGPs have not been economically viable, they have had serious problems and they have not achieved their aims. Despite this, women have continued to initiate and engage in such projects. Furthermore, men have also participated though to a lesser extent. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)Architecture-University of Natal, 2002.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Sc.-U.R.P.)-University of Natal, 2002.