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Recreational facilities in Mthonjaneni municipality, KwaZulu Natal: Planning, provision, participation and prospects.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters of Recreation and Tourism in the Centre for Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2006. / The greatest difficulty in the realm of recreation and tourism particularly in South Africa is the scarcity of the current and relevant research information. Furthermore, the planning and provision of recreation facilities coupled with the usage of fee existing facilities has been one sector mat has been overlooked by local authorities in KwaZulu-Natal and more specifically in die study area.

In recent years, more exciting forms of recreation including skiing, snowboard ing, bungee jumping, sky diving, hang gliding, paint balling, rock climbing, backpacking, caving, and adventure tourism have been developed and introduced to the public. Notwithstanding the existence of such sophisticated recreation facilities, the study area seems to lack some of the basic recreation infrastructure. As such, this study seeks to establish some of the following objectives:
a) To find out whether there are any policies and guidelines followed in the planning for provision of recreation facilities.
b) To investigate whether recreation facilities are adequately provided in the Mthonjaneni Municipal area.
c) To establish the extent to which local people utilize the existing recreation facilities in the study area.
d) To find out who is responsible for financing the provision of recreation facilities in the study area.
e) To reveal the demographic variables that play a role in the management, supply and demand of recreation facilities in Mthonjaneni.

The research established that there were inadequate recreation policies and guidelines followed, and that these were not implemented. It further discovered that there were inadequate recreation facilities in the study area. Further that the provision of new facilities was seriously inadequate. In terms of utilisation of recreation facilities the study established that there was non-participation by the majority of respondents. Finally the study revealed that the local government was perceived as the main body responsible for the provision and management of recreation facilities in the study area.


The study brought forward the following recommendations. Mthonjaneni Municipality must:
a) Develop a policy framework for the governance of sports at local level that is in concert with the national provincial sports and recreation policy.
b) Make sport and recreation accessible to all people in the local area authorities are important link in value chain.
c) Create the infrastructure required for delivery of sports and recreation.
d) Ensure that the existence of programmes that develop human resources potential in sports and recreation.
In the New South Africa recreation should be planned to promote nation building or unity rather than segregation. Hence, it is through recreation that the heterogeneous society of South Africa can truly begin to merge and develop a new positive identity. Melmoth town must continue to be centre that provides the people of Mthonjaneni with all amenities including recreation facilities.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uzulu/oai:uzspace.unizulu.ac.za:10530/1175
Date January 2006
CreatorsKhambule, Ishmael, Bhekinkosi
ContributorsMagi, L.M.
PublisherUniversity of Zululand
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatapplication/pdf

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