More explicit regional policy for South Africa, please Mr President

South Africa has a long and well-documented history with regard to the design and implementation of national development and regional policy. With the first official policy initiatives in the 1960s, it was decided by the then National Party that a policy of separate development (apartheid) of ethnic groups had to be implemented in the national space economy. In this sense, there is no doubt about the explicit nature of this policy, as it had very specific spatial objectives and implications from the national level down to neighbourhood level. With the democratisation of the Government in 1994, this negative policy connotation led to the establishment of numerous spatial development policies without any significant ‘spatial’ application. At the moment, however, numerous national government departments implement spatial investment programmes on a spatially explicit basis, with little coordination between these spheres and sectors of government. Research has shown that, on a global level, national and regional development policy increasingly has to be focused on a selected number of cities with inherent economic agglomeration benefits. This article aims to provide a scientifically based perspective on what the policy approach of the Presidency’s envisaged National Spatial Framework (RSA, 2012) should include, i.e., an explicit and spatially selective approach focused on cities with existing agglomeration economies

From the deputy editor

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Land-use suitability modelling as an input for spatial planning in Tlokwe local municipality, North-West province, South Africa

In recent years, issues related to the state of the natural environment have begun to play an increasingly more important role in the global arena of politics and civil society. It is crucial that these issues be integrated into planning processes and development frameworks in such a way that the protection of the natural environment and the promotion of sustainable development goals can be achieved. This article explores the use of a GIS-based spatial modelling method in achieving the above. The success of such an approach could ensure the effective incorporation of environmental data into spatial planning, and more specifically Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs), which is not always the case in South Africa. The study found that such an approach could be used with great success and could assist planners and policymakers in the challenge of steering land-use management in a sustainable manner. The study showed that a pro-active, interdisciplinary approach to land-use management is possible on a strategic level in South African municipalities

Structuring South Africa’s national economic space: A regional corridor network model approach

South Africa adopted a National Development Plan (NDP) (2013), referred to in the National Spatial Development Framework (NSDF) (2019) as a ‘super plan’, to transform national space economy and in the process disrupt the apartheid spatial logic. The South African National government adopted a series of acts and policies; sector plans and programmes, as well as strategic infrastructure investment programmes to eliminate the triple challenges of inequality, unemployment and poverty. This requires a strategic response, including a reorientation of selecting specific cities or regions as preferred locations to create development opportunities. Such a strategic response would require justifiable spatial solutions that can promote economic development. The article focuses on development corridors as a potential solution, elevating the importance of regional attractiveness as essential for economic growth. It is anticipated that the evolution of development corridors will result in the strengthening of cities and regional centres linked to the benefits exerted by corridors, on the one hand, and strong intra-national and interregional economic integration, on the other. The article concludes that development corridors are created to seek development opportunities, thereby increasing the spatial attractiveness of regions and cities that may provide for better economic spaces in South Africa

Land-use suitability modelling as an input for spatial planning in Tlokwe local municipality, North-West province, South Africa

In recent years, issues related to the state of the natural environment have begun to play an increasingly more important role in the global arena of politics and civil society. It is crucial that these issues be integrated into planning processes and development frameworks in such a way that the protection of the natural environment and the promotion of sustainable development goals can be achieved. This article explores the use of a GIS-based spatial modelling method in achieving the above. The success of such an approach could ensure the effective incorporation of environmental data into spatial planning, and more specifically Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs), which is not always the case in South Africa. The study found that such an approach could be used with great success and could assist planners and policymakers in the challenge of steering land-use management in a sustainable manner. The study showed that a pro-active, interdisciplinary approach to land-use management is possible on a strategic level in South African municipalities

The influence of location on the efficiency of manufacturers in South Africa

This article investigates the influence of location on the efficiency of manufacturers in South Africa. Locational decisions are important when entrepreneurs decide on the location of a new plant, as well as for the design of industrial development policies by government and industry. This article considers both the traditional factors that influence location and the modern factors, especially those emphasised by the ‘New Economic Geography’. This is followed by an account of empirical findings of a survey conducted among South African manufacturers regarding the location of their premises and its influence on their competitiveness and industrial efficiency

Prototypes of black wattle tannins and their stereochemistry

A number of interrelated flavonoid compounds, present in trace quantities in mature black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild) bark, have been isolated and identified for the first time. They include a) the resorcinol-pyrogallol analogues, (+)-leuco-robinetinidin (7,5',4',5'-tetrahydroxyflavan-3,4-diol), dihydrorobinetin (7,5',4',5'-tetrahydroxyflavan-3-ol-4-one) and robtein (2',4',5,4,5- pentahydroxychalcone) and b) the resorcinol-catechol analogues, (+)-leuco-fisetinidin (7,3',4'-trihydroxyflavan-3,4-diol), fustin (7,3',4'-trihydroxyflavan-3-ol-4-one), (-)-fisetinidol (7,3',4'trihydroxyflavan- 3-ol), butein (2',4',3,4-tetrahydroxychalcone) and butin (7,5',4'-trihydroxyflavan-4-one). In addition, two flavonol glycosides, myricitrin (3,5,7,3',4',5'-hexahydroxyflavone-3-rhamnoside ) and quercitrin (5,5,7,5',4'-pentahydroxyflavone-3-rhamnoside), which belong to the phloroglucinol-pyrogallol and phloroglucinolcatechol class of flavonoids respectively, were isolated from immature bark. These represent the only glycosides isolated hitherto from wattle bark or heartwood extracts. Summary, p. i

A policy approach towards achieving regional economic re-silience in developing countries : evidence from the SADC

Abstract: External economic shocks such as the global financial crisis (GFC) affect regional economic growth in developing regions through impacting export demand and capital inflows. Resilience to these economic shocks—i.e. the ability to recover from the initial impact and prolonged effects of said shocks—is influenced by the inherent vulnerability of regional economies to their impact. The research objective is to investigate regional economic resilience policy in the context of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the wider perspective of trading blocs among de-veloping countries. Central hereto is undertaking an equilibrium and econometric analysis to iden-tify endogenous and exogenous factors of the regional economy that influence economic resilience. Analysis findings indicate that economic openness, export market dynamics and sectoral composi-tion may influence economic resilience. SADC vulnerability may be attributed to the dependence on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and exports to higher-income markets, relatively low import tariffs and the comparative importance of tertiary activities to output. A balanced regional policy approach is required: one focused on industrialization, while incorporating elements to sup-port economic resilience. The latter includes increased intra-regional trade anchored in the devel-opment of regional supply and value chains which support primary sector activities, and capaci-tated supranational institutions to oversee regional integration initiatives

From the guest editor

The “Department Urban and Regional Planning” of the North-West University is celebrating their fiftieth anniversary this year. The Institute for Regional Planning was established in 1965 and this date is also accepted as the date of establishment of the current department. It was also the first year that students could officially enrol to study for the profession that is today known as Urban and Regional Planning. In an effort to gain some perspective on these historical events, it is helpful to look at the establishment of the profession at tertiary institutions. Like in most European countries, the profession in South Africa originated during the three decades after the Second World War. During this time a need was identified for specialists who can plan spatial arrangements and who can help regions and cities to plan ahead. At the time these functions were mainly fulfilled by related professions, namely land surveyors, architects and civil engineers