Many of today‟s global environmental problems can be traced back to cities. Managing the urban environment has become a priority not only for cities themselves, but also for the global environment as a whole. It has also placed considerable pressure on local governments to capacitate themselves with strategies, tools, and other competencies that enable them to effectively manage the environment. This thesis was undertaken to explore how the eThekwini Municipality located in South Africa is integrating sustainability, specifically within its Integrated Development Planning Process. This thesis is underpinned by the literature works of environmental policy making and discourse analysis as a methodology purported by Hajer (1995). One of the central premises of this literature is that any understanding of the natural environment is based on various representations coupled with assumptions and social choices. Therefore a detailed understanding of discursive practices that guides our perception of reality must be understood (Hajer, 1995). Ecological Modernisation, a newer policy discourse, does not comprise a unified set of ideas but has developed over many years of institutional debate. These set of ideas were initially drawn from large firms, environmental organizations, and scientific experts and to a lesser extent from local communities. Consequently this discourse represents a form of weak sustainability. The strong sustainability discourse calls for more involvement of local communities in respect of environmental issues and includes the discourse of LA21. The literature review therefore spans over a spectrum of discourses covering both weak and strong sustainability thinking as a base foundation on which to explore the case study of the eThekwini Municipality‟s Integrated Development Plans (IDPs): 2002-2005. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Urban Design / Many forgotten and resurfacing emerging theories in the field of urbanism are starting to recognise highperformance landscapes and green infrastructure as an essential urban element toward more resilient urban development. This report, entitled ‘Future-proofing the Urban Landscape: Green Infrastructure as a Primer for Resilient Urban Development’ addresses the question of whether Green Infrastructure can become the primary structuring element towards achieving more resilient development, and how this structure influences public place-making. The strategy is tested on a the Frankenwald site, one of the last remaining greenfield sites in Johannesburg. The proposed development comprises of guidelines and an indepth phasing strategy for development and intermediate natures that add long-term value towards future-proofing the city. The document establishes that green infrastructure is a highly relevant subject to consider for the planning of future cities. As a discourse it adds value to the profession of urban design and questions the urban designer’s capacity to offer more productive landscapes and assist in protecting and enhancing the ecosystem services of cities. The multi-layered nature of priming for green infrastructure services make available a variety of natural elements to be exposed and designed by means of meaningful place making. / GR2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning / The advent of democracy opened avenues for South Africa’s integration into the global economy. The international influences of governance and political economy have since transcended into the South African public management and its economic policies. The implications of this approach have led to the transformation of the local government sphere as an interfacing agent for service delivery, economic development and promoting democracy. Therefore, consolidation of municipalities towards becoming competitive cities lies on the justification that amalgamation can yield improvement in service delivery, redressing socio-economic and spatial disparities as well as improving economic growth. Using the West Rand district case study, it emerges that competitive cities require certain features of competitiveness ranging from sound infrastructure development, inclination to innovation, efficient governance, the ability to attract relevant labour, indigenous markets and the quality of life. However, the upsurge of creating competitive cities in South Africa is not purely for economic reasons but also political and developmental justifications. Against these features, the West Rand district possesses strategic strengths in natural endowments, governance, and a potential human capital. However, an innovation agenda for varied economic sectors, information technology and for building strategic networks must be developed in order to meet the long term vision. The report suggests that collaborative planning can be useful in building consensus and bringing on board the marginalised groups into decision making. Together with equity planning, it is considered as a guide for implementing redistributive justice as one of the objectives for amalgamation. Also, spatial reform towards a competitive region is proposed through strategic spatial planning approach to uphold democratic principles in planning for the district. The analysis leads to the conclusion that the amalgamation process is geared towards establishing a competitive West Rand region as a means of galvanising economic growth. However, the realities of service delivery challenges and a fragile economic base suggest that the mergers should also aim to enhance social justice and a redistributive developmental agenda.

“wherever the human spirit is free, people celebrate. All cultures commemorate what makes them distinctive and worthy in their own eyes. Periodically, a common humanity in us all sets aside the work and worry of everyday life and blossoms into festivity, sometimes even in the face of cultural domination and economic deprivation.” (Rinzler & Seitel, 1982, p.7) Various cultures exist and the display of specifi c group’s values, traditions and crafts in the form of an event becomes the ‘exciting experience’ longed for by the inhabitants of the city who crave an outlet from the everyday pressures and routine of life, desire a sense of belonging, want to express their suppressed desires or share an interest in the ideals or products being portrayed. These events require space, of various nature and size, which facilitate its range of needs from culturally relevant locations to necessary features. Globally, the urban setting has proved to be ideal when computing these space requirements and municipalities are going out of their way to create or maintain spaces to host these events for the wealth of social, spatial and economic stimulation they hold.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / The sustainability of a human settlement is a multidimensional problem, dealing not only with settlement spatial or housing dimensions, but also with spatial characteristics, geographic location, environmental considerations, economic viability, institutional capacity, human development, and social relationships and aspirations. With the ability to address spatial restructuring, effect integration and optimise the use of infrastructure, the South African government, through its New Comprehensive Plan for the Creation of Sustainable Human Settlements, promulgated in 2004, has identified integrated residential development, essentially comprising medium-density mixeduse housing opportunities, as the core contributor to the creation of sustainable human settlements. Through its land release programmes, government seeks to stimulate the development of integrated and sustainable human settlements. The evaluation criteria applied in the assessment of development proposals however differ between the various spheres of government. The criteria evaluating the inherent sustainability of a development proposal have not been evident in the literature review of the advertised proposals. With no overall assessment framework in place to assess the overall sustainability of integrated residential development projects, there has been an evident lack of consistency in the evaluation of such proposals. Furthermore, the lack of consistency and the lack of a consistently applied evaluation framework does not allow for adequate monitoring and evaluation after development. The aim of this investigation was to facilitate the development of an appropriate and adaptable framework that can guide government in evaluating an integrated residential development proposal in terms of its sustainability and the extent to which it endeavours to achieve government’s desired outcomes. An empirical study was conducted through evaluation research and comparative studies to investigate the indicators informing the creation of sustainable and integrated residential developments. Primary data were acquired through questionnaires to targeted public and private sector stakeholders involved in integrated residential developments, and were supplemented by a literature review on the aspects informing the sustainability of housing development. The research found that there is a lack of consistency and integration in the evaluation of proposals for integrated residential developments. Similarly, the key aspects and means of measuring sustainability were found not to be integrated into the evaluation process. The degree to which a development proposal was considered to be sustainable therefore is, and will remain, unknown until it is researched. Without the ability to measure the level of perceived sustainability pre- and post-implementation of development proposals, and with cognizance of the newness of integrated residential developments as a housing model, it is doubtful whether there will be progress towards the realisation of ideal sustainable human settlements. To facilitate the realisation of sustainable human settlements, the proposed framework seeks to establish a consistent means of evaluating an integrated residential development proposal pre- and post-development.

Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree Master of Science in Development Planning to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / A sustainable approach to development brings together social, economic and environmental aspects. However this does not occur in a vacuum, development decisions take place in a palimpsest of underlying decisions and a myriad of conflicting uses and tensions. The sustainable development of parks entails making trade-offs within a conflicting environment. This study reflects on officials’ practices in the processes of park developments. It evaluates the decision-making terrain for park developments to understand the challenges, the advantages and the limitations in achieving an integrated and sustainable park. To this end, I have reviewed JCPZ (Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo) officials’ practices in the park development of an urban wetland in Mshenguville, Soweto. The methodology used for this paper is mainly the case study approach and reviewing archival documents used for the development process. What makes this case study interesting is that this park has some contested, proposed and appropriated land uses such as golf, cattle grazing, and an eco-park. The research report mainly shows that a balance or win-win approach to development is not easy to attain especially in highly contested developments but rather a compromise can be reached provided that the other forces ( stakeholders) within the sustainability triangle (particularly social, economic and environmental) persistantly negotiate their space to be included in the development plan. / XL2018

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Witwatersrand, 2016 / This thesis is concerned with the relationship between informal settlements and green infrastructure. It uses the concept of just sustainability to explore the ways green infrastructure can contribute to more just and sustainable informal settlement interventions. The study draws on a case study design, with three low-income areas in Johannesburg serving as case studies. The first, Kya Sands, is an informal settlement that has not experienced substantive intervention. The second, Ruimsig, is an informal settlement that has experienced in situ intervention through reblocking. The third, Cosmo City, is a green-field housing development where households from informal settlements were relocated. The thesis utilised qualitative methods (semistructured interviews, transect walks, focus group discussion) for data collection across the case studies. These were supplemented by a quantitative component for data collection in an individual case and in-depth interviews with purposively selected key informants. The three cases reveal how the low-income residents in these areas derive a range of ecosystem services from natural ecosystems. A range of ecosystem disservices also came to the fore. In Ruimsig settlement, reblocking involved spatial reconfiguration that created opportunities for greening. Co-producing the in situ intervention involved some processes and outcomes related to equity and inclusion but also included situations that were exclusionary. Relocation from informal settlements into a new housing environment in Cosmo City formally created spatial opportunities for greening and reduced dependency on the natural ecosystem for certain basic resources. However, the course of events leading up to relocation and postoccupancy trajectory of green spaces reveal shortfalls in relation to justice and incognisance on socio-ecological and socio-economic realities at the planning stage. Juxtaposition between the cases of Ruismig and Cosmo City shows that in situ intervention can fulfill more principles of just sustainability in comparison with relocation. This thesis argues that careful assessment of the relationship between poor households living in informal settlements and green infrastructure — their interaction with natural ecosystems should influence the approach to informal settlement interventions. The cases reveal that achieving just sustainability in relation to green infrastructure in informal settlement intervention is not straight-forward, but not impossible. Progress towards just sustainability in the form of improvement in quality of life and in the environment requires navigating (with foresight rather than hindsight) the intricacies and dynamics obtainable in contexts into which informal settlements are embedded. / MT2017

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, May 2016. / Globally, urban areas are the fastest growing land cover with significant numbers of people residing within these urban spaces. The continuous growth and expansion of urban settlements continue to exert unprecedented negative pressure on the natural environment, and green spaces are increasingly disappearing. In most intermediate and secondary cities of developing countries, loss of urban green spaces is partly due to the knowledge gap in urban planning as well as the lack of comprehensive assessment of the challenges and factors contributing to the deteriorations of urban spaces in these cities. In any given urban environment, green spaces of all types are acknowledged for creating valuable economic, social and environmental services. Urban green spaces are fast becoming means to sustainable development due to their extensive multifunctional roles and benefits to different users. This research focusses on critically assessing the relationship that exists between urban greenness and sustainable development in the city of UMhlathuze, KZN, South Africa. It also explores how urban greening is increasingly tied to urban planning and the challenges that urban greening faces in the context of rapidly increasing urbanisation. Results of this study show that there is increasing need to improve green spaces especially for low income groups who cannot afford to travel out of town to experience natural environments. Urban development therefore calls for stakeholders to follow the principles of sustainable development with reference to ecological systems in urban areas, including community green spaces, gardens, biodiversity, native species and urban green infrastructure. If urban greening is properly planned and integrated into urban development and planning policies, it can brings economic, social and environmental benefits to developing world cities. / GR 2016

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sustainable development has gained great interest at global, national and local community levels. For instance, governments, civil societies, the commercial sector as well as local communities have responded to the agreed framework of UNCED known as Agenda 21, developed at the „Earth Summit‟ held at Rio de Janeiro in 1992, inter alia through the development of indicators aimed at monitoring and evaluating the achievement of sustainable development. As a result, different tools to measure the level of sustainability have been developed and applied in many cities globally. These include different types of indicators, namely environmental, social, and economic performance monitoring indicators, as well as combined indices. Since cities are dynamic complex open systems with interrelated social, economic and environmental systems, and sustainable development cannot be absolutely achieved, integrated sustainable development indicators that concurrently address social, economic and environmental dimensions are crucial to aid in monitoring sustainable development particularly in any given urban system. This study gives an overview of these indicators and indices. The South Africa government has acknowledged in both its National Framework for Sustainable Development of September 2006 and the Draft National Strategy for Sustainable Development and Action Plan of May 2010 that like other cities globally, cities in this country face similar challenges particularly due to urbanisation. In this study, the focus is on evaluating the sustainability challenges of the City of Cape Town and the role sustainability indicators could play in helping to achieve sustainable development objectives. This is supported by a review of the so called „sustainable cities‟ and in particular how the Cities of Seattle (USA), Santa Monica (USA) and Curitiba (Brazil) have tried to address urban challenges. To meet the study objective of recommending the type and a process of developing indicators that will aid in improving sustainability in the City of Cape Town, selected indicators and indexes developed globally, nationally and for other cities are critically reviewed. Selected policies, plans and indicators developed by the South African national government, the Western Cape provincial government, and the City of Cape Town are reviewed. The review aims at investigating whether the existing policies and indicators were useful in addressing sustainability challenges particularly in the City of Cape Town. The review focuses on the policy objectives to assess whether the policies contradicted or were supportive of each other, the existence or lack thereof of gaps in the policies, and whether local communities and other stakeholders were involved in decision making processes. The findings suggests that although sustainable development is addressed in the policy documents of all three spheres of government in South Africa, the implementation has not yet been effective – and the City of Cape Town is no exception based on published reports such as the State of Cape Town Report. On the basis of the lessons derived from the success stories of cities like Seattle, Santa Monica, and Curitiba towards achieving sustainability, several recommendations are suggested to assist the City of Cape Town in developing, implementing, and reporting on sustainability indicators. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Op internasionale, nasionale asook plaaslike gemeenskapsvlakke het volhoubare ontwikkeling groot belangstelling gelok. In reaksie op die ooreengekome raamwerk van UNCED, Agenda 21, ontwikkel by die “Earth Summit” (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), is aanwysers gemik op die monitering en implementering van volhoubare ontwikkeling deur regerings, burgerlike samelewings, die kommersiële sektor asook plaaslike gemeenskappe ontwikkel. Dit het gelei tot die ontwikkeling en implementering van verskillende instrumente vir die meet van volhoubaarheid in verskeie stede wêreldwyd. Hierdie instrumente sluit in verskillende aanwysers, ondermeer omgewings-, sosiale-, ekonomiese- en prestasie aanwysers asook gekombineerde indekse. Omdat stede dinamies komplekse ope sisteme met interafhanklike sosiale, ekonomiese en omgewingssisteme is, en volhoubare ontwikkeling nie absoluut bereikbaar is nie, is geintegreerde volhoubare ontwikkelings aanwysers wat sosiale, ekonomiese en omgewings dimensies gelyktydig aanspreek van kritieke belang in die monitering van volhoubare ontwikkeling, spesifiek in enige gegewe stedelike sisteem. In beide sy nasionale raamwerk vir volhoubare ontwikkeling (Julie 2008) en nasionale strategie vir volhoubare ontwikkeling en Aksie plan (weergawe van 20 Mei 2010) het die Suid Afrikaanse regering erken dat plaaslike stede, soos ander wêreldwyd, dieselfde uitdagings in die gesig staar veral as gevolg van verstedeliking. Die fokus van hierdie studie was die evaluering van die volhoubaarheids-uitdagings van die Stad Kaapstad en die moontlike rol wat volhoubaarheids-aanwysers kan speel in ʼn poging om volhoubare ontwikkelings doelwitte te bereik. Hierdie word ondersteun deur ʼn oorsig van die sogenaamde “volhoubare stede” en spesifiek hoe stede soos Seattle (VSA), Santa Monica (VSA), en Curitiba (Brasilië) stedelike uitdagings probeer aanspreek het. Ten einde die studie doelwit aangaande die aanbeveling van die ontwikkelingsproses van aanwysers en indekse vir die verbetering van volhoubaarheid in die Stad Kaapstad te bereik, is verskeie internasionale, nasionale sowel as stedelike volhoubare ontwikkelings indekse krities geëvalueer. Geselekteerde beleid, planne en aanwysers wat deur die Suid Afrikaanse Nasionale regering, die Wes Kaapse provinsiale regering en die Stad Kaapstad ontwikkel is, is ondersoek. Die doel van hierdie evaluasie was om vas te stel of bestaande beleid en aanwysers nuttig is, in die aanspreek van volhoubaarheids-uitdagings spesifiek in die Stad Kaapstad. Die fokus van die evaluasie was op beleidsdoelwitte ten einde te bepaal of: verskeie beleid teenstrydigheid toon of andersins ondersteunend is, die bestaan of gebrek aan leemtes in beleid en of plaaslike gemeenskappe en of ander belange groepe in die besluitnemingsproses betrokke is. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat alhoewel volhoubare ontwikkeling in beleidsdokumente van al drie sfere van die Suid Afrikaanse regering aangespreek word, die implementering daarvan nog nie so doeltreffend is nie - en gebaseer op gepubliseerde verslae soos die stand van Kaapstad, is die Stad van Kaapstad nie ʼn uitsondering nie. Na aanleiding van lesse geleer uit die sukses verhale van stede soos Seattle, Santa Monica en Curitiba in die bereiking van volhoubare ontwikkeling is verskeie aanbevelings gemaak om die Stad Kaapstad by te staan in die ontwikkeling, implementering, en rapportering van volhoubaarheids-aanwysers.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis reports on an evaluative study of the sustainability of housing development by the City of Cape Town with the Witsand, Atlantis, housing project as case study to empirically measure such sustainability. The study was attempted to determine how the City of Cape Town has planned for and implemented sustainability measures and what the results were in the Witsand project. The research therefore determined to what extent the expressed policy intent of sustainability housing delivery was implemented successfully in Witsand in terms of output and outcomes. The objectives of this study included outlining a theoretical and analytical framework for sustainable development as prescribed in the National, Provincial and Local Government policies and relevant legislation. An evaluative case study is provided, describing how the City of Cape Town implemented its policy in practice. This housing project was chosen because it is claimed to be the first large-scale integrated sustainable housing project in South Africa. The research methodology entailed an analysis of relevant literature, policies, legislation and project design documentation. In addition, the field work utilised a semi-structured mixed questionnaire for conducting interviews with the Project Manager, community development worker and a sample of residents. The research found that the City of Cape has followed the sustainability blueprint as far as their means allowed. The satisfaction level of the community is high. It was found, however, that the people, even though they received houses that were designed and constructed to take full advantage of the environment without harming it; lack the knowledge to maintain sustainable, energy conserving living. This indicates that sustainability in low income housing is not only a matter of design and technology, but also of instilling a particular behaviour amongst beneficiaries. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis voer ‘n evaluering studie van die volhoubaarheid van behuising deur die Stad Kaapstad by die Witsand, Atlantis projek, wat as ‘n gevallestudie om sodanige volhoubaarheid empiries te meet, gedien het. Die studie is onderneem om te bepaal hoe die Stad Kaapstad volhoubaarheidsmaatreëls beplan en geïmplementeer het, en wat die resultate van die Witsand projek was. Die navorsing het dus bepaal tot watter mate die uitdruklike beleidsvoornemens vir die lewering van volhoubare huisverskaffing in terme van uitset en uitkomste suksesvol in Witsand geïmplementeer is. Die doelstellings van hierdie studie het die skets van ‘n teoretiese en analitiese raamwerk vir volhoubare ontwikkeling, soos in Nasionale, Provinsiale en Plaaslike beleid en toepaslike wetgewing voorgeskryf, ingesluit. ‘n Evaluerende gevallestudie wat beskrywe hoe die Stad Kaapstad se beleid prakties uitgevoer is, word voorsien. Hierdie projek is gekies vanweë die aanspraak dat dit die eerste grootskaalse geïntegreerde volhoubare projek vir huisverskaffing in Suid-Afrika was. Die navorsingsmetodologie het ‘n ontleding van toepaslike literatuur, beleid, wetgewing en gedokumenteerde projekontwerp behels. Daarbenewens het die veldwerk gebruik gemaak van ’n gemengde semi-gestruktureerde vraelys vir onderhoude met die Projekbestuurder, gemeenskapsontwikkeling werker en ‘n steekproef van die inwoners. Die navorsing het bevind dat die Stad Kaapstad die bloudruk vir volhoubaarheid sover as die stad se middele kon toelaat, gevolg het. Die bevredigingsvlak van die gemeenskap is hoog. Daar is egter gevind dat die mense, ten spyte daarvan dat hulle van huise voorsien is wat ontwerp en gebou is om sonder enige skade aan die omgewing ten volle daaruit voordeel te trek, kennis ontbreek om op volhoubare wyse en met besparing van energie te lewe. Dit dui daarop dat volhoubaarheid in lae-inkomste behuising nie maar net ‘n kwessie van ontwerp en tegnologie is nie, maar ook vereis dat ‘n bepaalde soort gedrag onder die begunstigdes gevestig moet word.