A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Architecture, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree master of science (Development Planning) / Urbanisation processes in South Africa have historically been influenced and affected by the government's political ideology based on segregation and racial discrimination. This led to the constrained urbanisation of the African population facilitated by literally hundreds of restrictive pieces of legislation. ( Abbreviation abstract) / Andrew Chakane 2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Urban Design, Johannesburg 2016 / The public realm is continually under pressure as the container of constant urban change. Streets and public spaces function as connectors between public / private transport and the built urban form. The public realm is also responsible for hosting public activity that includes commuting, socialising, trading and governing. In the context of ever changing urban form due to accelerated urban sprawl, suburban growth, complicated politics and the increasing demand for vehicular transport, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and develop quality public urban environments throughout our polycentric cities. The concept of relinking transport and public space to mixeduse urban form originates from theory of Transport Orientated Development (TOD) and the densification of our cities in order to be more sustainable and to control urban sprawl. The importance of good quality public space, public transport and supporting urban form cannot be underestimated in the drive towards a densified sustainable city. Together the city transport network and supporting public spaces need to stitch all urban form and more important need to be attractive for all types of people living in the city. The assumption is that this will encourage people to move towards these densified areas that are supported by public transport nodes. The aim of this research is to identify possible scenarios for repairing urban fabric in order to improve the link between the community and the public urban realm. Key concepts that will be investigated are public transport, public spaces, urban form, suburban densification and non-motorised transport. The design initiative will be to repair a specific suburban neighbourhood by means of public space creation, urban densification and mixing uses within built form. The heart of the intervention is to create a lively sustainable dense neighbourhood by activating publicness through a humanist urban design approach. / XL2018

M.A. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Litt. et Phil. / The purpose of the study is to analyse the development of informal settlements in South Africa, with particular reference to the role of the Government in the improvement of informal settlement conditions around Daveyton, especially at the Etwatwa informal settlement. Research has shown that there is common experience in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America in as far as the development of squatter settlements or informal settlements are concerned. This strongly reflects on the South African experience. The common feature and experience is that informal settlements are the result of urbanization, which is a world-wide phenomenon. Research in countries has shown that migration to cities is based on people's expectation of a better quality of life in urban areas. The expectations lead people to migrate even when they know that they will be unemployed and would have to live in squatter areas for some time. The decision to migrate is based among other reasons on rational economic grounds. It depended on migration cost, the perceptions and prospects of finding a job, and wage differentials between urban and rural areas. Urban incomes were practically always higher than rural ones and migrants to cities generally seemed to do relatively well in acquiring jobs and improving their standard of living. Most of these activities are performed in informal settlements. Like in all developing countries, South Africa is no exception when it comes to the origin and development of squatter or informal settlements. The most common reasons are that people in their quest for a better life in urban areas end up living in informal settlements because they cannot find suitable accommodation. The rapid population growth in developing countries, for example in countries such as South Africa, has resulted in huge housing backlogs. This led to the mushrooming of informal settlements around cities, towns and townships, of people waiting for adequate housing for their families. In Daveyton specifically, the housing backlog in the late 1970s resulted in the emergence of backyard shacks, erected by people who were either residents of Daveyton, because of natural increase of the population, or people from neighbouring townships or rural areas. The study of Daveyton has showed that because of forceful invasion of land by people who did not have accommodation, Daveyton experienced a mushrooming of informal settlements from 1987. In 1987 the Daveyton City Council accepted in principle that squatting was a legitimate means for homeless people to provide shelter for their families and therefore established a site-and-service scheme at Etwatwa, a new section of the township, to accommodate the homeless and lower income families. For service provision the local government divided Etwatwa into two sections, Etwatwa West and Etwatwa East. Every household at Etwatwa West was provided with water and sewerage services, but at Etwatwa East only rudimentary services were provided. With the passage of time the local government tried to integrate the inhabitants of Etwatwa into an urban environment, through the provision of essential service such as water, roads, electricity and sewerage, and amenities such as community and social centres, recreational facilities, creches, schools, churches and clinics. The provision of services depend largely on the availability of funds, through rent payments, loans and funds allocated by the Provincial and National Governments.

A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Arts University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg for the Degree of Master of Arts. / Thesis examines cultural expressions and community attachment, and their relation to each other, in the creation and maintenance of urban identity. In examining this, the thesis considers a number of key cultural forms in Sharpeville such as boxing, football, musicial performance, youth. gangs, and styles of dress. It argues that, conceptually, "community" is never static; rather it is a state of existence, a perception, for a grouping of people. At a given time they may consider themselves to be collectively part of or constitute a community; at another, their attachments may be to a different entity - the local neighbourhood, for example. The empirical data was derived mainly from primary sources although due to the historical time-period examined - namely 1943 to 1985 - there was some reference to secondary sources. The research involved mainly in-depth interviews and participant observation. By administering a questionnaire, "key" informants within the various cultural areas examined were identifed and interviewed at length, sometimes more than once. The thesis argues that "communities" only gain a sense of cohesion, "identity" and unity at certain specific historical moments; at other times the cultured focus within them may in fact express quite other meanings than those of "community" for their members. This identity is seen thus as both a product of the structural features which inform, influence and even dictate its direction as well as the responses and actions of the residents themselves, in shaping its outcome. / Andrew Chakane 2018

Thesis (M.Arch. (Professional))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Architecture and Planning, 2016. / The 21st century has been defined by urbanisation and rapid growth but seemingly not by the resultant ecological detriment. Modern communities, entrenched in anthropocentric thinking have managed to unwittingly destroy the biotic assemblage of natural ecologies, this to the detriment of their urban ecosystem. This has left modern settlements in ecological crisis. [EM]POWERMENT is an investigation of eco-industrial intervention within the 21st century paradigm. This dissertation explores the potential of eco-industry as an urban catalyst, one of altered consciousness and environmental awareness. It imagines the completion of natural cycles by industry so that a sustainable urban ecology may be realised and environmental systems regenerated. If communities are to rise above ecological crises, it is apparent that the ways in which individuals think needs to be redefined. Communities should be steered toward an eco-anthropocentric view where man and nature can exist as a harmonious system capable of regeneration. [EM]POWERMENT introduces a power generating eco-industrial catalyst within densely populated townships, rectifying the current paradox where power is not “to the people”, as our South African heritage may suggest. [EM]POWERMENT provides community upliftment through the provision of basic services and it also empowers communities through education, reconnection with nature and equity in the success of the system. / EM2017

Assignment (MA ) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Informal settlements are a common feature of the urban landscape in contemporary South Africa and constitute one of the biggest challenges to urban planning and management at present. The political and legislative changes over the past decade have altered the approach to the management of informal settlements. This study starts out by examining the global trends and theory of urbanization, with special focus on the Third World. The various legal and policy frameworks relating to informal settlement and housing, as well as the implications thereof on urban management, are also examined. The assignment then proceeds to analyze the applicability and effectiveness of structured, formalized planning with regard to the management of informal settlement. The said analysis is followed by recommendations for the management of informal settlement, based on the preceding chapters. These recommendations suggest the following: Planners and authorities should be more proactive m planning for informal settlements. The applicability of individualized services should be reconsidered due to affordability and the inability of individualized facilities to cater for high levels of immigration. The study finally exanunes current strategies employed within the Cape Metropolitan Area, with special reference to the "Fast Tracking" process applied by the Helderberg Municipality. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: lnformele nedersettings is 'n algemene gesig in die stedelike landskap van Suid-Afrika en is tans een van die grootste uitdagings in die veld van beplanning. Die politieke en wetlike veranderinge oor die afgelope dekade het groot veranderinge in die benadering en bestuur van inforrnele vestiging tot gevolg gehad. Die werkstuk begin deur die huidige globale neigings en teoriee oor verstedeliking aan te spreek, met spesifieke verwysing na die Derde Wereld. Die verskeie wetlike- en beleidsraamwerke waarin inforrnele vestiging en behuising gereguleer word, asook die implikasies daarvan, word ook bestudeer. Die werkstuk analiseer ook vervolgens die toepaslikheid en effektiviteit van gestruktureerde en geforrnaliseerde beplanning ten opsigte van inforrnele vestiging. Die genoemde analise word gevolg deur sekere voorstelle wat gemaak word aangaande die bestuur van inforrnele vestiging. Hierdie voorstelle sluit die volgende in: Beplanners en owerhede moet meer pro-aktief wees ten opsigte van bestuur en beplanning van inforrnele vestiging Die toepaslikheid van dienste, wat fokus op individuele huishoudings, moet heroorweeg word aangesien dit onbekostigbaar vir beide verbruiker en verskaffer kan wees. Hierdie dienste is ook rue in staat om die invloei van mense te hanteer soos gemeenskaplike dienste nie. Laastens word sekere van die strategiee wat aangewend word in die Kaapse Metropolitiaanse Area ten opsigte van die bestuur van informele vestiging ook bestudeer, met spesifieke verwysing na die "Fast Tracking" proses soos aangewend deur die Helderberg Munisipaliteit.

A research report submitted by the Wits School of Arts, Film and Television Department, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Film and Television. Johannesburg 2015 / In our modern contemporary time period the vast and rapid expansion of globalisation is stronger than ever, resulting in the shifting of how identities are currently being formed. In Johannesburg there has been major shifts in the socio-political realities of our nation, coupled with globalisation there is a noticeable shift in way identities are formed in our present fractured environment. These shifts are important to acknowledge as South Africa is in the process of changing its image towards of an all encompassing equal state, and so It is imperative to study how these shifts are impacting on identity formation. There are multiple difficulties in a study such as this, initiating a study on a subject/s that is itself incomplete fails to produce finite answers or outcomes. Rather many varying results are produced and compiling this information proves challenging when attempting to comprehend these findings. It is my aim to understand not only how identities are being formed within the rejuvenating city, but also how the rejuvenation of the city is impacting on the formation of identities. Because of the long-established fractured nature of Johannesburg there has been a fracturing of identities that continues even in the face of the changes that are occurring. However with the changes meant to curb these fractures I question if these fractures are in fact diminishing, remaining the same or is there actually a noticeable change occurring. Initially I consider the history of South Africa as this has evidently impacted on the city, my research is it then focused on Johannesburg, as this is the environment I live in and have formed my own identity in. I also investigate how through the use of auto-ethnography I am able to practice ‘self-expression’ staged upon my personal view of Johannesburg and the fractures I encounter. Because I use auto-ethnography as my autobiographical filming technique I have exclusive control over the film and this proved challenging as I was positioning myself in the film as a form of subjectivity. This created a problem in how I was intending to represent myself along with the fractured landscape of Johannesburg. My outcome is a self-subjective representation of myself positioned into my environment represented as my personal view. I focus on the fractures I experience within my own environment the suburbs and that of the city, also the fracture between these two spaces and the continuing fracture in my own identity and relationship with the city. My research will allow for an avenue of self-representation on a very personal and idiosyncratic level as to encourage the city to be represented as it is experienced and perceived by its inhabitants. However my production can be seen as being specific to a similar case, that being of my own, but this practice allows for the use of auto-ethnography to represent our own individual perspectives and the subjectification of ourselves as inhabitants of the city from a personal perspective rather than a generalised and broad perspective.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Architecture, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the degree of Master of Urban Design / Andrew Chakane 2018