Browsing by Author "Holloway, Ailsa"

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    Analysing urban flood risk in low-cost settlements of George, Western Cape, South Africa : investigating physical and social dimensions
    (2008) Benjamin, Mogammad Ameen; Holloway, Ailsa
    The main theoretical question of the research concerns the importance of considering both the physical and social dimensions of urban flood risk. The following analytical questions are therefore considered: i) What constitutes urban flooding? ii) What processes influence the urban flood hazardscape? iii) What makes people vulnerable to urban flooding? iv) How does one assess urban flood risk? A realist and constructivist society-environment epistemology are considered. In particular, the platform generated through the aforementioned epistemologies for opening up the opportunity to incorporate an integrated hazardscape and vulnerability paradigm for integrated urban flood risk management is considered. The research adopts an analytical framework that includes elements of the Pressure and Release model, the Sustainable Urban Development framework and the Extended Alternative Adjustments framework to study flood risk in lowcost settlements. The research incorporates a review of the damage following three extreme weather events over George during 2006 and 2007. It selects a worst affected low-cost settlement for further flood risk analysis. In the flood risk assessment the research investigates the flood hazardscape of the settlement and physical adjustments undertaken by residents. Human flood vulnerability and vulnerability adjustments undertaken by the residents are also investigated. The research adopts a participatory hazardscape methodological approach drawing from hydrological methods within the physical sciences and qualitative methods from within the social sciences. Both primary and secondary sources are considered. The findings allow for a guiding Urban Flood Risk Circulation framework that explains the importance of considering both the flood hazardscape and human vulnerability in urban flood risk management.
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    A comparative study of participatory and household risk assessments and an investigation into the impact of a participatory risk assessment to effect change: case study: Section D, Sweet Home farm, Cape Town
    (2011) Arthern, Peter J; Holloway, Ailsa
    This research aimed to compare the respective contributions of Participatory Action Research (PAR) and household surveys to inform understanding of informal settlement risks and the impact/influence of PAR to effect change. Urban risks in Section D of Sweet Home Farm informal settlement in the City of Cape Town were examined through the lenses of community risk assessment (CRA) and household survey methodologies conducted sixteen months apart. The results described a risk profile for the study site, which was similar to that of many of Cape Town's informal settlements. However, there was more concern over chronic "everyday" threats, such as the disposal of solid waste and crime, rather than fire and flood, which are prioritised by the City. This stressed the need for risk assessments at the local level.
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    An examination of changes in rainfall, streamflow and landcover a case study of the Kandelaars catchment, Oudtshoorn, South Africa 1926 to 2008
    (2012) Mambo, Takunda; Holloway, Ailsa; Chapman, Arthur
    This study seeks to understand changes in rainfall and land-cover in the Kandelaars catchment, which are documented drivers that influence the magnitude, seasonality, and trends in flash-flood occurrence. The study site is situated South-West of the town of Oudtshoorn, which is part of a semi-arid basin, found between the Swartberg, Rooiberg, Outeniqua and Kammanassie mountains. This area is documented for its extensive agricultural activity in the form of ostrich farming, which has been practised there for over a century. In addition, the area is also exposed to seasonally extreme meteorological conditions, most notably in the form of cut-off lows, which have been projected to intensify with the changing climate.
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    Examining the feasiblity of informal settlement flood early warning systems : focus on the urban flood-risk experience of Kosovo and Masiphumelele residents, Cape Town South Africa
    (2011) Solomon, F J; Holloway, Ailsa
    This thesis examines the feasibility of applying people-centred approaches to flood early warning systems (EWS) in informal settlements in the City of Cape Town, particularly, through the experiences of poor and disadvantaged communities in Kosovo and Masiphumelele informal settlements. The impact of recurrent floods during the winter rainfall months and their costs are disproportionally borne both by those at risk and the local government that is required to repeatedly respond to them. A social science perspective is adopted, with the application of a risk communication framework. The urban flood-risk context of both study sites and the risk governance approach to managing and communicating flood risk were investigated and factors influencing flood warning processes and behavioural factors influencing response to flood-risk and flood warning, examined.
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    How natural are 'natural disasters'? : vulnerability to drought in Southern Namibia communal areas
    (2000) Fara, Katiuscia; Holloway, Ailsa
    Bibliography: leaves 37-41
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    Human agency and everyday childhood injury risk : exploring household protective measures for children in ward 7, Epworth (Harare) and Samora Machel (Cape Town)
    (2011) Mavengere, Chiedza Adelaide; Holloway, Ailsa; Van As, Arjan Bastiaan (Sebastian)
    [T]his study sought to explore and examine the role of human agency in reducing and managing everyday risks in two African informal settlements through the lens of child injury prevention. The methodology used for data collection and data analysis comprised both qualitative and quantitative research methods. A total of 100 household questionnaires were administered in the two study sites. In addition, field observations, two focus group discussions in each study site were facilitated and key informants interviews were conducted. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, which was complemented by qualitative data.
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    An investigation of the rainfall-related and human-induced risk drivers that contributed to acute urban water scarcity a case study of the urban water scarcity in the George Municipality from 2009-2010
    (2012) Barrett, Laura Marie; Holloway, Ailsa
    In 2009, severe water scarcity in the Eden District resulted in seven municipalities being declared "drought zones". This was largely attributed to the lowest rainfall recorded in 132 years and widely recognised as a climate changed problem (SABC News, 2009). The Eden District administrative centre, the municipality of George, was also identified as significantly drought affected with water storage declining in the Garden Route Dam to 26.8% of Full Capacity Storage (Department of Water Affairs, 2010). The declaration of the drought emergency in South Africa's Eden District in 2009 illustrates the increasing episodes of urban water scarcity in rapidly growing urban centres in Africa that are also exposed to climate variability. Specifically this study sought to investigate the atmospheric and human-induced risk drivers that contributed to the acute urban water scarcity in the George Municipality from 2009-2010.
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    Resettlement & Namibian San communities: prospectives for sustainable community development through empowerment
    (1998) McLean, Bernice; Holloway, Ailsa
    Namibia's Resettlement Programme aims to uplift all Namibians through the redistribution of land. This land reform programme seeks to assist the destitute and landless to become self-sufficient within five years. Policy provisions commit to providing special attention to San people as the most marginalised Namibian community. A critical evaluation of the resettlement process, however, reveals that this is simply rhetoric. Project planning and design is centralised and is undertaken on an ad hoc basis. Resettlement is enabled by rigid, prescriptive and exclusive legislation which has informed the technocratic manner in which the resettlement process is implemented. The authoritative approach adopted to resettlement is goal oriented. It focuses on the short-term product of poverty alleviation, rather than the process of self-sufficiency through empowerment for settlers. This provision of assistance fulfils only the immediate basic needs of settlers as are determined by authorities. The ability of San settlers to achieve autonomy through resettlement is restricted by the incapacity of the process to adapt to diverse social dynamics and locally conceived priorities. Community-level implementation of resettlement remains in the hands of authorities entrenching the continued dependency of San settlers on government provisions. Forced integration of settlers of different social groups whilst disregarding diverse local priorities, fuels social tensions and reduces community cohesion on the projects. The subordination and impoverishment of San settlers is magnified through resettlement. Negative preconceptions compound communication problems on the resettlement projects. Assistance empowering San settlers to improve their well-being, relate to a more community-based approach, identifying and acting on local needs and aspirations. San settlers continue to diversify their livelihood strategies to overcome the challenges posed by their circumstances. The inability of the resettlement process to accommodate these strategies results in a socially, economically and environmentally unsustainable land reform process.
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    Resettlement, household vulnerability, livelihood adaptation and opportunities in Ethiopia : a case study of the Metema resettlement area
    (2010) Bahry, Mihret Jember; Holloway, Ailsa
    This thesis examines the recent experience of resettlement through a case-study of the Metema Woreda resettlement site, located in the Amhara Regional State from a disaster risk lens through the application of the sustainable livelihoods framework. Specifically, the study sought to examine the vulnerability and risk context of resettled households. It also aimed to investigate the ways in which household livelihoods are configured and differentiated in the new environment.
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    Riverine flood risk reduction in the Western Cape: a case study of the Baths River
    (2007) Durham, Caryn; Holloway, Ailsa
    Globally, floods are viewed as the most destructive of all naturally triggered disasters. This is indicated by reported flood losses that exceed one third of the estimated total cost associated with all disaster events triggered by natural hazards. Additionally, flood events account for two thirds of the global population affected by all naturally triggered disaster events.
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    Sometimes I think the shack was better : examining flood-risk in subsidised housing areas in Cape Town.
    (2013) Pharoah, Robyn; Oldfield, Sophie; Holloway, Ailsa
    This thesis examines the extent, nature and impact of flooding in informal and subsidised housing areas on the Cape Flats. Drawing on constructivist arguments regarding the subjectivity of risk as a concept, I examine how flooding and risk are conceptualised locally and internationally, and how well these framings compare with people's experiences in subsidised housing areas in Cape Town. I show that flooding remains a significant challenge in subsidised housing areas. Flood-risk has a strong built environment component; the very dwellings that should help to improve people's lives serve instead to transform and perpetuate risk, undermining the developmental objectives of the housing programme. In so doing, I interrogate assumptions about risk, hazard and vulnerability, and the lessons for theory and practice.
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