National planning in South Africa: A temporal perspective

This article aims to provide a temporal and critical perspective on national spatial planning since the 1970s until the most recent directive in 2012. From the first spatial policy initiative, the National Physical Development Plan (1975), radical changes have occurred in the various approaches to national planning. The most recent spatial planning directive in South Africa is the National Development Plan (2012), which has a diversified approach with political, social and economic goals. In the past four decades, national planning policy and directives have moved through balanced and unbalanced regional growth approaches. The top-down approach of the 1970s with rigid area-specific directives transformed into a bottom-up more adaptable, socially oriented and interpretation-based approach in recent years. In the process, South Africa’s spatial policy has evolved from a policy dominated by political objectives in the 1960s to a multi-sectoral policy which purports to be based only on economic principles of a multi-sectoral free-market system; from one of strong government intervention to one of minor intervention. The general perception of this article is that only some of these policies are substantially attributed to effective socio-economic development due to the lack of spatially focused initiatives

Regional resilience in peripheral South Africa: The Northern Cape case

The role of regional policy mechanisms towards increased regional resilience is widely recognised, but limited consideration is given to the impact of these mechanisms in, specifically, the peripheral region. In reaction hereto, this article explores the role of three key mechanisms, i.e. economic sectoral composition, innovation and knowledge networks, as well as government institutions as policy tools towards increased regional resilience in a peripheral region in South Africa. The role of each of these mechanisms is quantified and measured by specified indices such as the GVA, the Tress Index and the ICT Access Index, and government indicators such as audit outcomes and service delivery data in five planning regions of the Northern Cape province. This article highlights that a state of dynamic stability and resilience is more feasible through policy intervention focused on these three mechanisms, coupled with detailed regional socio-economic analysis. It also emphasises that a knowledge-rich region will be less dependent on single sector development, pushing itself into a new development stage of secondary and tertiary sector focus through economic diversification, lessening its vulnerability to external shocks and disturbances, and impeding regional lock-in. In support hereto, collective institutional action by a responsive and accountable local and regional government, operating beyond their functional limits, will reinforce and amplify development in the peripheral region

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

Determining the vitality of urban centres

Thesis (M.Art. et Scien. (Town and Regional Planning))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007This study was initiated to potentially provide an encompassing Index of Vitality for urban centres. The Vitality Index’s goal is to evaluate and measure urban centres in terms of growth and general performance on various levels. This will enable measurement of the general economic, social, physical, environmental, institutional and spatial performance of towns within a region, ultimately reflecting the spatial importance of the urban centre in the region. The main problem statement reveals a lack of integrated and encompassing indicators that reflect on the urban structure as an organic entity. This demands for the inclusion of a number of existing indicators into an encompassing index. Towns have been measured in terms of numerous indicators, mostly in connection with social and economic conditions, over an extended period of time. The lack of typical spatial indicators is identified as a shortcoming in the measurement of urban centres. Urban centres exist and function within a larger region, consequently all urban centres are interrelated. This study proposes the utilisation of a comprehensive index to measure the importance of an urban centre within a specific region. The proposed Vitality Index reflects on a city’s vitality. .vitality describes the ability of an organism to stay alive or work effectively. The proposed Vitality Index was developed on the basis of which an urban centre is measured by means of a number of indicators, indicating the ability of that urban centre to continue to exist, be viable, and function satisfactorily in order to provide for the basic needs of the community and to improve the lives of all residents in the long run. This Vitality Index includes social, economic, satisfaction and spatial indicators. The Vitality Index is consequently tested in the proposed study area situated in the Northern Cape Province. The Northern Cape Province is sparsely populated and has very few large urban centres. The urban centres also occur at irregular intervals and the geography of the area is fairly homogeneous. The area is, therefore, ideal for a study project such as this one since the geography will have less influence on the settlement of people. The specific study area is represented in each of the levels of the urban system, and thus includes urban centres in the natiunal regional, and daily urban systems. This contributes greatly to the study, due to the inclusion of Spatial Indicators in the Vitality Index. The study area furthermore fits into the core-periphery model (which is central to this study), with certain centres forming part of the core, while other centres and development corridors are included in the transition zone, and the periphery. A main town is identified within each Local Municipality by means of the central place index and the functional classification of towns with regard to population size. The results obtained for each municipality is consequently related to the main town within the specific urban centre. The results allowed for interurban comparison and measurement as identified within the aims of the study. From the empirical study it is disclosed that Kimberley acquires prominence as the urban centre of greatest spatial importance within the study area, followed by Kathu, Kuruman, Barkley West, Jan Kempdorp, Bothithong and Warrenton. This study contributes in a number of ways to the measurement of urban centres, including the classification of urban indicators into four broad categories, i.e. normative welfare, satisfaction, descriptive social and spatial indicators. This study also proposes the sifting of possible indicators by measuring them against certain prerequisites. Methods are proposed for calculating the Vitality Index, including the ranking and scoring of urban centres. It is proposed that shortcomings that are identified for the urban centres be addressed by policy initiatives, comprising a set of objectives and strategies to correct imbalances. The Vitality Index also provides a basis for structuring national and provincial growth policies, in the identification of urban centres with sustainable growth potential and vitality.Master