Browsing by Author "Odendaal, Nancy"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 22
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    A web of relations: co-production arrangements in urban sanitation infrastructure provision in informal settlements in Arusha City, Tanzania
    (2019) Abwe, Furaha; Odendaal, Nancy
    Many city governments and actors have tested approaches or models and technological developments to address urban service crises. But this has tended to be without much success, as the service delivery gap keeps widening, leading to governance failure. One response to this decline in governance capacity has been the evolution of co-production arrangements. The overarching aim of this thesis was to examine the co-production arrangements of urban sanitation infrastructure provision among multiple actors in informal settlements, and to interrogate whether the predominance of such arrangements was indicative of an alternative form of city governance. Two wards within Arusha city (Tanzania) were selected as case studies. A range of research methods was employed to uncover the landscape of actors involved, and to explore co-productive processes, socio-cultural aspects and other complexities shaping sanitation provision in the two selected informal settlements. Case study methodology was used with a range of data collection methods (household surveys, focus group discussions, document review and semi-structured interviews). The study adopted a relational approach informed by ActorNetwork Theory as the analytical framework for understanding the human-material interactions in the sanitation chain. Key findings indicate that co-production serves a public function, but it is not recognised as such in Tanzanian public policy. Individual and collective co-production arrangements have been established that bring together various state and non-state actors in the sanitation chain to form networks. These networks make service delivery possible, which one actor alone could not deliver. The study reveals that sanitation infrastructure in informal settlements is largely provided by the household, although some are either inactive or captured co-procuders. Further, the narratives indicate that complexities and the contextual factors (including gender-based power dynamics, social norms, values, traditions and culture) shape access to sanitation facilities in the city of Arusha. The study found that the exclusion of women and children from sharing toilet facilities motivated Maasai men to practice defection in open areas. Further, this study speculates on an alternative form of governing city affairs based on actor-networks in the co-production process: co-productive networked governance. Future research is needed to examine how co-productive networked governance could be integrated into the existing city governance structures and how informal governance arrangement could be recognised and enhanced.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    An evaluation of the water and sanitation programme as implemented through the Mvula Trust by the Limpopo Department of Education
    (2019) Swanepoel, Pieter L.; Odendaal, Nancy
    The study evaluates the water and sanitation programme as implemented through The Mvula Trust by the Limpopo Department of Education (LDoE) in terms of the agency agreement between the two parties, thereby providing: • A precedent of public services and infrastructure delivery through co-production • A precedent of sustainability innovation in the midst of resource scarcity through the large-scale decentralisation of basic services with off-grid water and sanitation systems. The study looks into the context in which the formal arrangement between The Mvula Trust and the LDoE came into place and which continues to be implemented as an alternative means of public service delivery by the state. It further looks into the extent of the deliverables of the programme, which consists of more than 1 843 projects, and on which more than a billion rand has been spent. The scope of works for most of the projects implemented by The Mvula Trust consist mainly of the provisioning and upgrading of water and sanitation services at public schools in the province, including the construction of the dry waste sanitation facilities and the drilling of boreholes. This decentralised form of basic service delivery, unconnected to municipal water supply or sewer systems, was borne mostly out of necessity, but is an improvement on the unsustainable and unaffordable centralised water supply and sewer systems that have been found to be both unsustainable and unaffordable in the long run. The scale and consistency of the roll-out of decentralised water and sanitation systems by the LDoE is commendable and has made it the norm, rather than the exception at schools in the province. The expenditure on a portion of the programme, that is mostly completed, is evaluated to determine the success or failures of the programme as measured against the cost parameter, and finds that The Mvula Trust managed to complete the overall programme within budget. However, when the data for each addendum is compared, it becomes evident that only three of the eight addendums were completed within budget, four was less than 20% over the budget and one was more than 20% over the budget. When the expenditure data per project is evaluated, it reveals that only 62% of the projects can be deemed to be successful in terms of the cost parameter of projects that finished within the allocated project cost. However, the trendline suggests that The Mvula Trust is increasingly improving in keeping their expenditure within the allocated budget. The study reveals that The Mvula Trust is remunerated 10% of the project cost as an implementing agent management fee, with an additional 2% for disbursements. This management fee percentage is fairly high when compared to other implementing agents, especially when the fees for Professional Service Providers are added, which combined with the management fee result in more than 30% of the construction cost. An evaluation of this capital expenditure at these facilities reveals that there is a substantial difference between the average expenditure per learner depending on the size of the school as measured by the school enrolment in 2017. For primary schools the capital expenditure amounts to R6,818 per learner at micro primary schools, with enrolments of less than 135 learners; as opposed to R1,230 per learner at mega primary schools, with enrolments of more than 931 learners. Similarly, for secondary schools the capital expenditure amounts to R6,242 per learner at micro secondary schools, with enrolments of less than 200 learners; as opposed to R1,387 per learner at mega secondary schools, with enrolments of more than 1 000 learners. With the substantial infrastructure needs that exist at schools in Limpopo, coupled with limited funding to address these challenges, it would be prudent for expenditure to be channelled to where it would have the greatest impact. The data would suggest that the greatest impact would be achieved if priority is given to the implementation of infrastructure projects at larger sized schools.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    An exploration of the parameters of liveable urbanism through inclusive incremental development
    (2019) Duke, David; Odendaal, Nancy
    “Despite a significant reduction in the percentage of population living in informal settlements from 2000 to 2014, the absolute number of people living in deplorable conditions has increased from 689 to 880 million people over the same period. Current policy and planning practice in developing countries has not been able to cope with such pervasive rapid urbanisation. By 2050 the United Nations predicts two-thirds of the global population will live in cities. Of which as many as one-third of this population could be living in informal settlements (slums). To address these unsustainable and undesirable trends in support of the disadvantaged and maintaining environmental sustainability, this minor dissertation conducts comprehensive research of contemporary policy and planning work to seek alternatives. The purpose of the literature review is to identify commonalities, differences, gaps of knowledge and constraints of current policies and planning practice currently used to plan and manage growth of cities. Analysis and findings then inform and add value in exploring parameters for a 'liveable’ or improved urbanism from that currently experienced in informal settlements. Historic global policies focusing on government led top down approaches to provide large scale low cost housing have not kept up with demand, although they remain popular politically. From these policy and planning failures, it is evident that a more inclusive and incremental approach better utilizing available human capital should be considered. Critical analysis of literature with an alternative urbanism and planning paradigm in mind emerges in the findings and conclusion in the form of recommended parameters for a new inclusive and incremental urbanism. Such urbanism is entirely possible provided the critical issues identified such as lack of political will and good governance can be mitigated. To dramatically improve the lives of millions will require a compelling vision and collaborative effort seldom seen in current policy and planning of developing countries. Despite the daunting task, this paper seeks to define a conceptual framework drawn from findings to mitigate issues and guide an alternative vision of the future. The alternative urbanism that emerges from the conceptual framework may fall somewhere between that of current informal settlements and current discourse such as smart cities’’
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Community Based Fire Risk Reduction - Case Study of Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay
    (2013) Rosenberg, Matthew; Odendaal, Nancy
    The destructive impact of disasters, man-made and natural, has been well studied in many contexts and a number of approaches for managing these disasters have been suggested. Much of the literature, however, has come out of the developing world with the focus on formal, well established communities. Informal communities are so inherently different from formal areas that they experience disasters very differently. Fires across Cape Town informal settlements have been well publicised following a number of devastating fires in recent years, but limited local research has been conducted in this and urban design for disaster risk reduction. Planning has the ability to fulfil a key role in acting as facilitator between communities and disaster management officials by developing detailed local plans focussed on reducing community vulnerability; something which is not often seen. This research therefore focussed on Community Based Disaster Risk Management for Fires in an informal Cape Town community. The need for increased community involvement in the planning and Disaster Management processes is the premise upon which this research is based, contrasted with the typical top-down approaches commonly used in Disaster Risk Reduction. In order to study Disaster Risk Management at the community scale, case study research was conducted in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay; a dense settlement that has been plagued by numerous fires recently. Focus groups were run with community members and fire-fighters, using a physical 3D model of their community for interaction and analysis. To supplement these interactions, local authorities and disaster management officials were interviewed for their perspectives. The results of these discussions were analysed in conjunction with a socio-economic and bio-physical analysis of the community in order to draw conclusions and develop proposed interventions. The key findings are encouraging for the reduction of disaster risk in informal communities. Residents are enthusiastic about reducing disaster risk on a personal and neighbourhood level and requested increased interaction with local authorities. Ideas discussed during the focus groups are further developed and interventions and guidelines are proposed for the community and the City respectively. These innovative, previously unthought of solutions to some of the problems present an opportunity to change how communities plan for, respond to and deal with disasters.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    A contextual analysis of cycling environment assessment tools in a Cape Town mobility corridor
    (2016) Petzer, Brett; Watson, Vanessa; Odendaal, Nancy
    Building on recent research on barriers to cycling mobility in low-income South African contexts, this study explored the role of the built environment as a determinant of cycling practices along a mobility corridor in Cape Town, South Africa. The communities surveyed reflect the demographic and income disparities of the city, and their attitudes to cycling and the cycling environment both corroborate existing findings and pose new research questions. In particular, respondents of all income levels showed that they distorted their own journeys by bicycle to avoid areas perceived to have a high risk of criminal activity, even where this meant using routes perceived to present a high risk of physical injury. A second finding was that all road users engage in informal road behaviour, including motorists, and that this is an integral aspect of the study area's mobility culture. The methods used in this study were a series of interviews with three community bicycle-shop owners, supported by focus groups held in each community, and accompanied by a mapping exercise. Fieldwork took the form of accompaniment of youth cycling initiatives and observation of commuting practices by the author. The data obtained in fieldwork were then used to evaluate a selection of cycling environment assessment tools from the USA, UK and Australia, and a pedestrian environment assessment tool from South Africa, in order to evaluate their contextual appropriateness for the local determinants of cycling. The study concludes with recommendations towards a South African cycling environment assessment tool that would capacitate local government and civil society to deliver improvements to the cycling environment and capitalise on existing pro-cycling policies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Creating a platform for transit-oriented development (TOD) through integrated land use and transport planning in Cape Town: a study of Bellville station
    (2018) Van Wyk, Carlu; Odendaal, Nancy
    As urbanisation trends continues and increases across the world, urban trends have seen urban growth take place horizontally, leading to undesired urban sprawl. With the global introduction of the automobile in the 1960's, urban sprawl has been exacerbated with the automobile allowing for the decentralisation of employment, residential, commercial and leisure opportunities away from the Central Business Districts of the city. Due to a multitude of negative social, environmental and economic effects associated with urban sprawl, spatial planning practices have been aimed at reversing this trend and ultimately creating a more compact urban form. In addition to undesired urban sprawl, the use of private vehicles as the dominant mode of transport has also been problematic. In an attempt to address these issues simultaneously, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) has recently been adopted as a tool with which to achieve transformation of urban forms. This study aims to explore TOD has a tool by assisting to (i) provide a theoretical base and historical perspective of TOD; (ii) provide insight regarding the principles and benefits of TOD that has promoted the use of TOD as a transformative tool; (iii) understand the role of land use and transport planning in providing a platform for the implementation of TOD strategies; (iv) identify cases where TOD has been adopted successfully; (v) understand the role of the legal environment in South Africa with regards to the implementation of TOD strategies; (vi) depicting how the ideal TOD environment could look and function in Cape Town; (vii) understanding how South Africa's legal environment promotes TOD at local level of government in Cape Town and; (viii) what key issues and challenges currently hinder the successful implementation of TOD strategies in Cape Town. This study makes use of a literature review, as well as an empirical study where existing documents (such as spatial development frameworks and integrated transport network plans) are analysed and qualitative and quantitative data is used to explore a number of case studies. From the case studies and additional research it was evident that there is a need for a sound legislative platform which promotes and supports the adoption of TOD at all spheres of government. It was further found that several issues and challenges are made mention of in municipal plans and policies, but that these issues and challenges continue to negatively influence the implementation and success of TOD in Cape Town. Existing legal tools and instruments are not necessarily capable of creating a platform for the implementation of TOD and would thus need to be amended or integrated with other local level strategies. If Cape Town is to successfully use TOD as a tool with which to rectify spatial issues, the legal environment needs to better promote the integration of land use and transport planning in order to encourage densification and to ensure that public transport becomes a viable means of transport in the city. Only once the above mentioned are addressed, can the spatial form of the city be transformed through TOD and future development can contribute to the sustainability of Cape Town.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Data driven urbanism: challenges in implementing open data policy and digital transparency in the City of Cape Town
    (2019) Dlamini, Majaha; Oldfield, Sophie; Odendaal, Nancy
    As part of its quest to become the first digital African city, in 2014 the City of Cape Town adopted an open data policy, which was later coupled with an open data portal to make government data available for public access. This was touted as a novelty initiative as the City of Cape Town was the first African city to implement a policy of this nature. This open data initiative aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability as well as promoting inclusive economic participation for its citizens. Open data project managers from the city and external industry experts working on open data initiatives were interviewed to understand the current the state of open data within the city and how it worked with other stakeholders. The study draws on these interviews to present the current challenges experienced by the city from the city’s official point of view as well as from open data experts working closely with the city. To understand the practical experiences of how the city publishes data in its platforms, the study also extensively explored the city’s open data portal, as well as examining and commenting on the documented open data policy guidelines contrasted and compared to current practical experiences. To guide the objectives and analysis of the study, four key themes were adopted from literature; context, use, data and impact. Context focused on the overall context or environment at which open data in the city is provided as a public service, while use focused challenges on the uses of open data as well as it is users, data focused on the types of datasets published on the portal as well as the technical challenges in publishing them. Lastly impact looked at the expected benefits and goals of the city’s open data policy. The study through the themes highlighted the ongoing challenges at various levels that the city experience as they implement and develop the open data policy. Overall it was noted that open data was not a goal but continuous challenges were arising daily while implementing and developing the policy- while it was noted that various stakeholders within and outside government had to collaborate to effectively meet the required open data standards.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Exploring the potential of technology in enabling the inclusive co-production of space
    (2016) Corbett, David; Odendaal, Nancy
    The potential of emerging technology to address poly-urban issues is a growing focus on the agendas of cities worldwide. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding how and in whose interests it should be applied - should the aim be to establish 'smart cities' or to encourage 'smart citizens'? The 'bottom-up' approach advocates the latter and recognises the potential of technology to facilitate the prioritisation of issues and co-production of spaces. Particularly in a developing context where resources are severely limited, the ability to prioritise interventions to have maximum impact is exciting. However, these projects and the processes which enable them are under-researched. In this dissertation, a combination of Network Action Research and case study methods are used to guide the application of a selection of digital tools in combination with semi-structured and indepth interviews, surveys, and focus groups to a specific context. The products of this are insights regarding the processes which enable inclusive bottom-up smart city projects; the application of the Network Action Research method; and a context-specific resource of information to guide the future prioritisation of projects and planning in the study area. This dissertation explores the value of inclusive participation in planning, and the role that technology can play in facilitating this. However, it also uncovers the complex and non-linear nature of these projects, ultimately arguing that although technology is a valuable resource, it is not a catch-all. A hybridised approach to bottom-up smart city projects is crucial to their success.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    From housing to human settlements: the role of public space in integrated housing developments
    (2018) McGarry, Michelle Samantha; Odendaal, Nancy
    Since 1994 the post-apartheid South African Government has recognized the importance of housing in improving the quality of life of its citizens. Following 10 years of a housing delivery model that saw the provision of nearly 1.6 million houses, the National Government introduced a new policy that sought to shift away from an emphasis on housing and rather a holistic focus on the quality of the settlement established. This new policy, Breaking New Ground (BNG) promoted the establishment of well-managed, liveable and equitable settlements incorporating social and economic infrastructure. The quality of the urban environment and the quality of public spaces within urban developments has been identified as contributing towards improving quality of life within these settlements. In mixedincome, integrated settlements - like those BNG claims to produce - the importance of public space is further emphasised because it compensates for limited space of the private home. However, these spaces are often considered as "nice-to-haves" and neglected in favour of basic services or housing. Despite the importance of public space and its contribution to the creation of sustainable human settlements, these spaces, although planned for in the initial phases of a development, still remain largely undeveloped. This research therefore questions whether public spaces within integrated housing developments are being used as intended. It also questions to what extent the necessity for increased urban densification has affected the provision of public space in integrated housing developments. This research attempts to answer the question from the perspective of professionals involved in the planning and implementation of integrated housing developments and not from the perspective of residents. A qualitative research approach has been adopted. Three settlements each representing an integrated housing development implemented in line with BNG principles and incorporating public spaces were selected as case studies and in-depth interviews with professionals involved in the planning and implementation of these developments were conducted. The research found that while public spaces are considered as beneficial and are included in the planning stages of a development, in reality the lived experience often differs. While the objectives of housing policies are to create sustainable human settlements, professionals still struggle to translate these objectives into practical guidelines and standards. Finally, it was observed that while public spaces do play a role in the shift from housing to human settlements, the process is one that occurs incrementally and over a period of time.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    A GIS-based walkability index for the City of Cape Town
    (2018) Van Heerden, Schalk Willem; Odendaal, Nancy
    Walking is a widely accessible mode of transportation, yet our urban environments are automobile dependent. Automobile dependence, in turn, led to a rise in the level of inactivity amongst urban residents. Studies investigating the relationship between urban form and human health created walkability indices measuring urban environmental features contributing to the walkability of an area. However, walkability has only recently become the subject of research within urban planning. Within a South African context limited research is available on walkability and to date, there is no metropolitan-wide walkability index for any South African metropolitan. The research presented in this dissertation addresses the gap in South African walkability studies through the composition of a walkability index for Cape Town. From previous studies, the research identifies three main measures of walkability. These measures and a fourth Cape Town specific measure of walkable areas around informal and formal destinations are quantified and mapped using GIS research methods and techniques. The GIS results are validated against field validations points depicting streetscapes within enumeration areas. Based on the results and the validation thereof the study suggests possible applications of the walkability index for non-motorised transport planning in Cape Town.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Green infrastructure: urban water management framework for Paarden Eiland, Cape Town
    (2015) De Almeida, Palmira Ndeshihala; Odendaal, Nancy
    Cities in South Africa are currently experiencing rapid urbanisation, especially Cape Town. Infrastructure development has long been a critical component with a large amount of money invested in the development of hard infrastructure. However, in light of excessive stormwater runoff, the increased deterioration of surface water resources, degraded water quality, and the rapid progression of climate change around the global, many cities including Cape Town have progressed towards more sustainable forms of infrastructure development. Discourse surrounding sustainable development often encourages the improvement of the quality of urban areas without compromising the carrying capacity of ecosystems. This is a fairly new model in South Africa, which challenges the underlying principles of conventional infrastructural design and management. There is particularly an enthusiastic interest in the promotion of green infrastructure as a water sensitive design strategy in the management of stormwater and surface water. Presently, drainage systems for urban areas in Cape Town are constructed using principles of hard infrastructure, which often consist of complex man-made networks of underground tunnels and pipes that gather and direct stormwater runoff towards a surface waterbody. However, the extensive development of drainage infrastructure has led to increased stormwater runoff volumes, flooding, and flows. Urban stormwater runoff is known to be one of main sources of pollution and degradation of waterbodies, which has in turn resulted in the degradation of other environmental assets. Therefore, the planning, design, and implementation of infrastructural solutions there is a need to move towards a more sustainable and water sensitive model, in order to remediate these problems. Green infrastructure in this respect offers an opportunity to better manage both stormwater and surface water in a more holistic, cost-effective, efficient and ecological sound manner. The main objective of green infrastructure urban water management is to mimicking the natural hydrological cycle through various stormwater management interventions, in order to achieve what conventional drainage systems currently do and beyond their existing capacity. This dissertation uses Paarden Eiland as a case study and experimental project site in order to assess and investigate how green infrastructure can be utilised to effectively manage stormwater runoff and surface water within a heavily developed urban area. It explores the potential benefits this method of management provides in comparison to a conventional infrastructural approach of management. This study also highlights some of the critical issues and barriers that urban practitioners need to take into account when implementing such systems. A green infrastructure urban water management framework and conceptual layout are presented in order to demonstrate potential green infrastructure tools and strategies that may be used in retrofitting heavily developed areas, as well as provide guidance on how spatial planning can be utilised as a tool in the planning, design, and implementation of green infrastructure as well as in overcoming identified financial, technical, and institutional barriers.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Impacts of mining on land use - A case (study) of Luanshya district, Zambia
    (2018) Sakuwaha, Kabangu Grace; Broadhurst, Jennifer; Odendaal, Nancy
    Copper mining is the main driver of Zambia’s economic growth and development and plays a significant role in the global supply of materials for electrical, plumbing, heating and transport equipment among other benefits. However, primary production and beneficiation of copper pose serious risks to the mining districts such as environmental pollution, landscape alterations, land degradation and social economic challenges to the host communities. This research looks at the landscape alterations in the mining district of Luanshya, and how these alterations are related to mining and other land uses. Using remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the landscape alterations were mapped and analysed to identify the processes causing these alterations and their impacts on land use. Secondly, stakeholder interviews were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the mapped landscape alterations, what the approach has been to land use planning and the stakeholder roles in this planning. Analysis of the findings identifies that landscape alterations in the district have been caused by different inter-related mechanisms stemming from a number of causes. These causes include high dependency on copper mining; inadequate enforcement of environmental legislation; lack of state involvement in land use planning of mining districts; and also global factors such as commodity market conditions. As a result, boom and bust commodity cycles have had significant impacts on the wellbeing of both mining communities and the environment. These impacts are not limited to the mine sites alone but extend to entire districts. This research also identifies that while mining plays a vital role in the economic development of Zambia, adequate enforcement of environmental legislation and adoption of inclusive land use planning may stimulate sustainable development of mining districts and foster sustainable land use patterns. Furthermore, this study recommends that future land use planning must be dynamic in terms of adopting postmining restoration of landscapes and infrastructure while also taking the direct and indirect impacts of mining into account.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Information and communication techologies and the urban transformation of South African informal settlement communities
    (2014) Mitchell, Hylton; Odendaal, Nancy
    The paper explores the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) practices of the Social Justice Coalition (SJC), a grassroots community based organisation working with informal settlement communities in Khayelitsha, a largely informal neighbourhood on the south-eastern fringes of Cape Town, South Africa. The study focuses on SJC’s advocacy work in the delivery of ‘decent sanitation’ to informal settlement residents. This has been an explosive political issue for a number of years now. Many communities within Khayelitsha rely on communal toilets for sanitation, and the maintenance thereof has left much to be desired. Within the larger theme of digital activism, three main research areas were identified and explored: the appropriation of ICTs by the SJC’s field staff, the use of their Web 2.0 based social networking sites (SNS) in their advocacy work and digital mapping of portable communal toilets in the RR Section of Khayelitsha. The research interrogates the use of ICT as a strategic tool for knowledge-based community empowerment, with the aim of understanding how these emerging uses of technology could assist urban transformation work within this sprawling area. The research emphasizes the roles of various actors, the roles played by different technologies and the relations between technology and people. The emphasis on agency reveals that technology is not enough to augment empowerment processes. Technology-organisational relations are enmeshed within an institutional frame, where the enrollment of technology as actor, requires a repositioning of network relations, in order for it to fulfill its potential as an empowerment tool.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Open Access
    Inside Out - The Iziko Slave Lodge as Witness to Slavery
    (2023) Weinberg, Jonathan; Odendaal, Nancy
    The thesis investigates how the Iziko Slave Lodge has witnessed slavery from when it was erected as the VOC SL in 1679 to its current configuration as the Iziko Slave Lodge Museum. It traverses the story of the Lodge both historically and critically through its various iterations over time, in order to understand how the Slave Lodge has occluded, witnessed, and borne witness to the history of slavery in Cape Town. Although the study is framed by the underpinnings of the act of witnessing, it has also been about uncovering and acknowledging the layers of patina of the Iziko Slave Lodge Museum itself as a witness to slavery over time. The modalities of witnessing, testimony, memory, memorialisation and museumization are explored as they pertain to the building and museum. The outcomes of the research are augmented by my own reflexive analysis, having worked at the Slave Lodge in its earlier museum iteration as the South African Cultural History Museum and having witnessed its transformation into the Iziko Slave Lodge in the 1990s. Despite the apparent resilience of the architecture and the Slave Lodge building, I suggest that witnessing should not only be confined to the built environment but should form part of a greater public heritage complex, embracing identity, memory, and socio-political resonance. The practices of witnessing drawn on in this thesis are established as a complex, multidirectional processes. Acts of witnessing, bearing witness, occlusion and illumination may serve as useful frameworks for reflecting on and representing histories and spaces of atrocity beyond this case study example.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    An investigation into the application of the Aerotropolis strategy to the Cape Town International Airport from a Global South Urban Planning perspective
    (2015) Hanly, David; Odendaal, Nancy
    The Aerotropolis is one of many airport led urban development concepts that challenge the way city's have traditionally been planned and managed. In the developed world, airports have evolved from military bases to decentralised and privatised Airport Cities and regionally linked Aerotropoli. On the other hand, although Africa has 12% of the global population and represents 1% of global airfreight and passenger volumes, these figures are expected to increase over time. As South Africa is considered the gateway into Africa, the national led Oliver Reginald Tambo International Airport in Gauteng and the King Shaka International Airport in Ethekweni Durban have recently pursued regional airport approaches. There is substantial scope to apply airport-urban theories to the Cape Town International Airport, which is situated 20km from a sea port, sees the second highest passenger count in South Africa and is set for 11.5 billion Rand in upgrades in the next 5 years. However, the decision to pursue a regional airport approach for the CTIA must be orientated towards the South African context of post-apartheid restructuring and social transformation. This is because the question simultaneously raised is how to stimulate development in the historically segregated South East Metro, with the economic potential of the decentralised and adjacently located CTIA being largely overlooked. The dissertation provides a twenty (20) year regional Spatial Development Framework for the CTIA. Interviews are held with 10 key actors in fields related to airport, urban and business related planning. The literature and findings of the dissertation reveal that firstly, the AeroScape and Airea are more appropriate for conceptualising the retrofitting of an existing airport while the Aerotropolis is best suited as a business model and not a physical form. Secondly, the aviation linked sectors in Cape Town are connected to the City’s unexploited comparative advantages in labour absorptive industries such as agri-processing, manufacturing and textiles which can be brought to the doorstep of the CTIA and South East Metro. Lastly, the functionality of these industries provides further opportunity to develop a sustainable closed loop metabolism between the CTIA, Phillipi East Industrial Node and Philippi Horticultural Area.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    An Investigation into the Night-Time Economy in Long Street
    (2014) Blecher, Mischa; Odendaal, Nancy
    This paper investigates the night-time economy (NTE) present in Cape Town, focusing on Long Street as its spatialized case, to ascertain the credibility of it becoming a 24 hour (24-h) city. A diverse and vibrant NTE is seen as the foundation of a 24-h city which is inclusive of the broader community. The concept, originally developed in the United Kingdom (UK) as the 24-h planning policy-package, sought to create active city centres at night by embracing a neoliberal approach to managing the NTE. This package revolved around getting people into the city centre at night, as well as promoting their participation in the NTE. This was meant to be achieved by the deregulation of liquor laws and some amendment of municipal by-laws. However, the policy-package had the opposite effect, and resulted in the proliferation of youthful adults engaged in acts of transgression and anti-social behaviours. Consequently, the broader community was driven away from city centres at night as they became designated spaces of ‘patterned liminality' -- when social order dissolved and transgressions were normalised. The research, conducted using a case study method, is comprised of primary and secondary data. This includes evidence from 16 interviews, a photo essay, and infield observations which together indicate that there are distinct parallels between the alcohol-fuelled and youth-dominated NTEs in the UK and the NTE found in Long Street. The research concludes that Long Street has become a space of ‘patterned liminality' where anti-social behaviour is acted out, resulting in an exclusionary effect for the broader community. In light of this evidence Cape Town can make no claim to be a true 24-h city. The dissertation concludes by suggesting recommendations aimed at creating a more inclusive NTE aligned with the 24-h city ideals. These include: temporary pedestrianisation, the extension of retail trading hours, amendment the Western Cape Liquor Act of 2008 to include a saturation point for liquor licences in a specified area, investigation of the feasibility of a night market, promotion of cultural events not centred around drinking, and ensuring that Long Street is a well-lit space at night.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Land and housing practices in Namibia: cases of access to land rights and production of housing in Windhoek, Oshakati and Gobabis
    (2019) Delgado, Guillermo; Odendaal, Nancy; Watson, Vanessa
    As in many other places, socio-spatial production in modern Namibia has been a top-down practice approached in professionalised and standards-oriented ways, focused on outputs. 'Participation’ or involvement of 'beneficiaries’ has over time been added to the repertoire of such practices, but this remains driven by a one-dimensional definition of what’s 'better’. Even when the modernist and centrally-controlled practice of Apartheid is generally condemned, its ways with regards to spatial production remain largely unquestioned and, by consequence, preserved and expanded. At the same time, the urban transformation that Namibia has seen in recent decades has been astonishing. These changes expose the limits of previous approaches and at the same time lay bare new openings for socio-spatial production. There are various practices that have been part of this urban transformation, but they remain largely undocumented. Furthermore, even when they are approached, they tend to be assessed in terms of their outcomes; relegating the ways of the process as a matter of lesser importance. My research accounts for three practices of socio-spatial production in three urban areas in Namibia today. These spaces have been the result of a considerable number of iterations, and have been made possible through the contribution of a wide array of participants; many of them performing beyond their 'main’ role. I have documented these practices from their beginnings up to the point in which they are today. My research is structured as a case study. Within it, I have undertaken semi-structured qualitative interviews with participants, and also employed maps, official documents, and photographs to triangulate the accounts. I have then brought these together with debates on co-production and autogestion, exploring whether the practices can be understood in these terms. Other subsidiary debates fundamentally related to these two are those on state and civil-society divisions; the nature of grassroots associations ('social movements’); and on-going and long-standing debates on land and housing. My analysis suggests that, while the way in which the practices take place varies greatly, they can be considered the sites of various kinds of innovation. I have also found that the 4 ways of the grassroots, while having legitimacy and equality as strong values, show new options in terms of representation. I have found that co-production, as understood in the more recent literature, is a useful way to understand the practices, particularly if a variety of strategies is recognised. Autogestion is a useful term to keep in mind, and although such term has some overlaps with the recent concepts of autogestion, only some understandings of the term stemming from practice enable a reading of the cases I document. The division between civil society and the state today consists of a constellation of parties not necessarily fitting in these two categories. The practices stand also as the more recent evidence within a trajectory of production of space undertaken through a social process involving the grassroots in Namibia, one in which visibility and participation are no longer the only aims, but where negotiation and some degree of autonomy is sought. Lastly, land ownership (real or perceived) emerges as a powerful force in making the process collective and enabling socio-spatial development. Land rights are exercised throughout, often irrespective of the degree of de jure tenure at stake. Housing becomes a devise for savings and resource mobilisation, as well as an income-generating activity sometimes enabling further livelihoods. My study adds to on-going debates on co-production, and to some extent to those on autogestion. For the first, it expands on earlier observations that brought the term to the socio-spatial realm and provides new openings for the term to establish bridges to other debates. It also contributes to the archive of socio-spatial practices in Namibia, and to the pending project of a socio-spatial history of the country. It provides new insights for those engaged in socio-spatial production of what are the experiences and the openings for a new kind of practice that moves away from the assumptions that have placed us in the urban crisis that characterises our times.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Mapping the spaces in-between: how ICT can assist in providing a safer and more efficient commuter experience for all
    (2016) Enslin, Claire; Odendaal, Nancy
    Contemporary societies are facing rapid growth, urbanization and migration into the form of urban cities and environments. This requires the ever-expanding need for urban infrastructures to facilitate growing populations, communities and economies within cities. A vital elements within modern urban environments is the need for different forms of urban mobility in order to facilitate the movement and flow of people, goods and communication networks. Within the realm of urban mobility is the important aspect of public transport infrastructures as a system of creating more sustainable and equitable mobility for people within urban environments. Within cities of the global South, such as Cape Town, greater public transport systems are highly reliant on non-motorized transport (NMT) systems. This is due to issues of affordability, efficiency and spatial proximity of large portions of the population in relation to public transport facilities. Therefore, a substantial amount of urban mobility is facilitated by walking as a mode of transport. However, public transport within Cape Town are impacted by issues of personal safety. This is most visible in the Cape Town central business district (CBD). There is a lack of knowledge, design and planning around how people move within the city, and how NMT systems are used within the greater public transport domain. Issues of personal safety become the dominant focus for NMT and human-scale mobility within the city centre. This research examines these issues in more detail. In order to gain deeper knowledge around the experiences of NMT users within the CBD – a qualitative method of research was applied. The research used a gender-sensitive lens in order to gain an understanding as to how gender roles contribute to issues of personal safety and issues of mobility within the urban environment. The objective was to demonstrate the intersection of issues of personal safety within mobility and within space. The research is used as a foundation for creating a mobile phone App prototype. The design is based on user-generated data to create a tool that can help commuters find the safest human-scale mobility routes within the CBD. This tool demonstrates how ICT (information and communication technology) systems can be used to create safer mobility infrastructures and networks. The prototype relies on user-generated data that creates a platform for citizens to become planners in their everyday transport navigations. Thus the research also explores how technology and user-generated data can inform planning and urban management. This resulted in a tool that enables a cyclical system that blends the knowledge of the user and planner in the co-productive design of space and mobility infrastructures.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Mobilising Youth: A study of school learner mobility in Claremont, Cape Town
    (2013) Kay, Nina; Odendaal, Nancy
    South African cities have been shaped by the country's colonial rule, followed by the era of Apartheid. During Apartheid the majority of South Africans were forced to live on the periphery of cities far away from opportunities that were found in city centres, causing stark social, economic and spatial polarisation. Since the end of Apartheid many, including planners, have been attempting to address these imbalances across the country. One of these imbalances includes access to educational opportunities. There is a clear lack of research on learner transportation within South African cities and receives very little attention in legislation and policy. Learner mobility is therefore the focus of this study and the research aims to identify barriers to learner mobility and ways in which spatial planning can respond to these barriers. Objectives of the study therefore include identifying barriers and exploring learner mobility patterns and travel experiences. To conduct the study, surveys, field observations and a spatial analysis was undertaken within a local precinct in Cape Town, namely Claremont. Surveys were distributed to learners within the area in order to gather data on learner mobility patterns. The guiding spatial plan for Claremont, the Southern District Plan was critiqued and analysed along with the findings from the surveys to identify the barriers to learner mobility and the ways in which spatial planning can respond. The research revealed that the dominance of the private motor vehicle, the inability to integrate land use and transport planning, safety while travelling and the lack of youth participation in planning are the four critical issues that need to be addressed to improve access to education across Cape Town and overcome the barriers to learner mobility. If the interface between land use and transport planning could be implemented correctly and for the right reasons, with safety and youth participation in mind, social equity, spatial equity and increased accessibility to education can become a reality. It is hoped that this research be a useful contribution to begin the shift of the South African city to one that is more inclusive of its children through the use of spatial planning and can increase learner mobility and access to education.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Spatial implications of foreign direct investment (FDI) on infrastructure delivery: A case of the City of Lusaka, Zambia
    (2018) Musonda, Chipampata; Odendaal, Nancy
    The is a strong belief that FDI offers possibilities towards a development that has eluded developing countries for decades. It has become a predominant feature in development policy. The influence towards this orientation to development emanates from geopolitical dynamisms that have revolutionized global production systems at the hands of globalization. Innovations in urban economic development strategies concentrate on integrating local economies into the global market through the provision of infrastructure as the operative of global capital inflows. It is argued, however, that to exploit the full benefits of FDI, not only should the country attract the appropriate kind of investment, but its investment policy should be consistent in its interaction and engagements with the overall country's development policy regimes. Appropriateness in this argument entails that, with infrastructure identified as the primary requirement for attracting FDI, it is not only a question of being able to link the provision of infrastructure to attract investment but understanding the social-technical nature of infrastructure and its overall spatial manifestation as a function of urban form and structure. It is the spatial character underlying urban production systems, which development strategies such as FDI need to appropriately understand because it is at that interface were FDI-economic growth argument translate into economic development. Using a formulated conceptual framework based on Socio-Technical Systems (STS) theorization, the study assessed the spatial impacts of the FDI on infrastructure in the City of Lusaka in Zambia. It identified key institutions at the fulcrum of investment promotion and spatial development planning with a focus on planning and provision of network infrastructure. It also reviewed the main policies and legislation driving the FDI-led development agenda. The findings point out that national government priorities at significantly focused on the provision of infrastructure, however, on a very selective and narrow perspective. Infrastructure provision priority is in what is termed as 'economic infrastructure' argued to be the missing element in attracting FDI. What was also discovered, which in a way explains how infrastructure provision is narrowly considered, is a fragmented institutional framework resulting from inadequate legislation. The inadequacies lack of recognition of the spatial embeddedness of investment in the legislation resulting in disconnection between investment strategies formulation and spatial development planning. The overarching conclusion from the study is that to actualize the benefits of FDI substantially, the framework of regimes at the core of advancing the development goal driven by infrastructure, needs to understand the socio-technical nature of network infrastructure. A purely economic consideration of infrastructure as was discovered in the study, significantly limits FDI's contributive value to development.