Analysis Of Strategic Spatial Planning In South Africa

Introduction

The important of planning in South Africa is spatial integration that has been a key objective in Post-Apartheid spatial planning with policies to get this including densification and decreasing of the urban fabric. This objective has been classified through policy, legislation and plans. The purpose of spatial integration remains vague and unclear. Strategic spatial planning as is relevant to South Africa because it entails the methods used and approaches followed by government and private sector stakeholders in managing the distribution of activities and humans in spaces. It is coordinated effort that includes policies and practices that affect spatial organisation of people and activities.

Definition of Spatial Planning

The process of strategic spatial planning in South Africa defines the priorities and outcomes of such, the creation of a strategic spatial planning must be relevant to a specific geographic area and putting into place the plan that must be done effectively. Part of this process entails ongoing monitoring of outcomes of the strategic spatial plan.

The European Model

At the European level the term "territorial cohesion" is becoming used widely. Territorial cohesion is a European Union concept which grows on the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), The main idea is to contribute to European sustainable development and competitiveness. It is meant to strengthen the European regions, promote territorial integration and produce coherence of European Union policies so as to contribute to the sustainable development and global competitiveness of the EU.

Spatial Planning South African Context

Strategic spatial planning in post-apartheid South Africa has vividly been in reaction to the pre-1994 planning processes locally and internationally. The focus should be on guidance for optimal spatial development. Earlier strategic spatial planning frameworks have not been able to allow change and have often been too broad. A principle mistake in earlier planning processes in South Africa was the lack of connection to infrastructure planning. Thus, many municipalities today deploy plans more closely connected to infrastructure planning.

Core spatial principles

Strategic spatial planning in South Africa in line with international trends is now done with consideration and linked with financial, regulatory and institutional environments. The main principle is the systematic response to spatial patterns across geographic areas which make social and economic inequalities harder. One of the focuses of modern strategic planning in South Africa is the reduction of economic efficiencies, the interventions selected must therefore bring about more spatial transformation in support of locally focused and driven governance regarding spatial development. The aim is to create a balance between economic development, spatial equality and sustainable environmental practices and management. In essence, the environment cannot be compromised for the sake of economic competitiveness. The government and stakeholders today must focus on aspects such as increasing personal freedom through the expansion of choices regarding where one wants to live.

The planning process must have input of the communities affected by the spatial development plans. It is important that the public and private sector clarify the overall national strategic spatial development vision and create and enhance the instruments to keep the vision. It is also important to develop the essential capabilities in the government and amongst the South African citizens. Main spatial principles must be supported by the planning processes in South Africa. Accordingly, every person has the right to access and use land, integral to this is the ability of people to earn a livelihood from the land. Sustainability is a very important principle, it focuses on social responsibility, affordability, environmental responsibility and integration.

Design Principles

The design principles should be applied to cities in South Africa including modularity, adaptability, environmental responsiveness and diversity. It is important to ensure efficiency in asset management, administration and resource management. Human settlement must be planned and developed in a manner that can address the issues created by segregation of communities in the post-1994 era. The conditions in the communities must be improved and sustainable living and working environments created.

An estimation of around 10% of the land in South Africa is suitable for human settlement and urban development because the largest part of the country is suitable for agriculture, whilst the country’s geography also places limitations on habitable spaces. With such in mind, it is important to minimise urban sprawl but at the same time, improve the settlement patterns and conditions within the urban spaces. Although strategic spatial planning in South Africa is broadly focused on long-term development goals that must be set. It is still important to connect the broad plans with immediate development needs, spatial planning must effectively be joined to infrastructure planning in order to attain such. With differeny population groups an influx of people from Asian and African countries add to the population of the country, globalisation of economic activities and the challenge of addressing human settlement problems. It is important to make use of experienced urban planning firms to assist the government and relevant stakeholders in creating sustainable strategic spatial plans relevant to the unique challenges of South Africa and its different cities.

Governance of Spatial Planning and The Law

The laws in operation today were designed explicitly to form part of the apartheid scheme for a racially segregated and unequal South Africa. These laws also changed in a time when the control of land use and land development was seen as the prior purpose of planning legislation. In line with the inherent inequality of apartheid, the laws applicable in formerly White areas were detailed, complex and implemented by well-resourced municipal planning departments. The rest of the country was badly abandoned from a planning perspective. Today the laws in force which dates back to that era is inappropriate.

Reviewing the Laws

The South African Cities Network (SACN), together with the national Department of Co-operative Governance (DoCG), commissioned a study in early 2011 on provincial legislation dealing with spatial planning and land use management. This team reviewed the use of planning laws across all nine provinces, drawing on practices in identified metros and cities in each province. It also had an evaluation of important legal issues to be taken into account when designing new provincial legislation covering spatial planning and land use management.

National Government Interventions

1. A strong intergovernmental process to drive and lead to planning law reform: National government needs to co-ordinate legislative reform and a forum or body such as the former Development and Planning Commission, set up under Chapter Two of the Development Facilitation Act, No. 67 of 1995 (DFA) is suggested.
2. Bring key provisions of laws dealing directly with planning into one integrated law: this requires a review of the Municipal Systems Act, No. 32 of 2000 (MSA) that regulates Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and importantly, Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs).
3. Provide guidance in the form of model provincial planning legislation: all provinces have struggled to have new planning legislation and while some provinces grapple with unique circumstances, all need guidance on fundamental aspects such as informal settlement upgrading and land use management systems in rural areas.
4. Provide guidance in the form of model municipal bylaws: although municipalities have the powers to get their own planning bylaws in the interests of consistency and in the face of low capacity in municipalities, national government should guide this process.
5. Develop guidelines on rationalising assigned legislation: complexity in planning results from these assigned laws and while some provinces have tried different approaches to dealing with the reconcile and upgration of these laws (sometimes with unintended consequences) there is no consistency, indicating a strong and urgent need for guidance on this.
6. Providing guidance on key planning processes/approaches: many of the planning laws are outdated and are not sufficiently dealing with the current realities of; for example, informal settlements, development in rural and traditional areas. Each province is trying to fit these processes into their old ordinances. What is needed is clear national direction to provinces on these processes.

Provincial Government Interventions

1. Provinces to establish a forum to drive provincial planning reform: it must include local government, key sectoral provincial departments and provincial offices of national departments involved in planning/housing/environment.
2. Provinces to compile a comprehensive audit of all planning laws still active in the province: this would include identifying old laws that are still on the statute books and providing an indication of the implications of their repeal to guide provincial planning departments in the justification of planning laws.
3. Take monitoring and support of municipal planning seriously: the performance of laws should be monitored, especially if new laws are introduced. Constitutionally, provinces and national government must support the capacity building efforts of local government to undertake planning and mechanisms such as shared services could be explored.

Local Government Interventions

1. Establish a cities' forum: this could act as a platform to share experiences and needs for legislative reform, especially around local bylaws.
2. Improve or establish recording and reporting systems for land use management: critical strategic planning, monitoring and improving performance.
3. Strengthen the capacity to undertake municipal planning effectively: municipalities need to employ more planners and provide more support and mentoring, ideally with backing from provincial and national government.
4. Re-think planning appeals structures: current formulations are constitutionally suspect (provincial government taking local planning decisions) and it is in local government’s interests to drive the process developing inter-municipal approaches and ensure that the solutions find their way into provincial and national legislation.

The team’s recommendations

Planning contributes to the economic base of municipalities by zoning land and generating property rates revenue, it regulates development in line with government’s strategic goals, it can protect and support the poor and vulnerable, especially to obtain secure, legal rights to land. The huge problems that we face need consideration, prompt and effective solutions involving all spheres of government.

In the South African context, large cities are densifying rapidly counter to an international trend and so the question is less how to promote densification than how to leverage the benefits of densification to improve personal and household access to the urban advantage?

Policy Guideline in a South Africa Context

Environmental Quality and urban conservation policy statement: highest level of environmental quality should be strived for with existing quality being enhanced through the implementation of public and residential interfaces according to guidelines. As many trees as possible should be retained. A suitable environment quality is a basic human right supported by principles as defined in the Development Facilitation Act. Environmental quality is, however, seen as subjective evaluation. "Acceptable should then be defined through norms and values of the local community. Environmental quality has two components, i. e. implementation and maintenance.

Conservation with the buildings should be conserved and the current residential character of the main areas should be enhanced. For each precinct or node a character statement, development intensity planning control design guide and access management should be developed. Development principles should be developed for land uses, urban form, movement transport as well as environmental quality.