Spatial planning perspectives on sustainable community development : an analysis of informal settlements intervention in the Gauteng City Region

Abstract

Informal settlements are a major planning challenge and have become a central policy issue in democratic South Africa. In spite of the various local, provincial, national and international initiatives to promote the creation of sustainable human settlements; informal settlements continue to exist as spatially marginalised societies characterised by poverty, unemployment, gender and social inequality as well as vulnerability to external shocks and disaster risks. This study is based on the argument that, in practice, intervention is mainly directed at achieving set quantitative targets and goals rather than improving the lives of the inhabitants. The case of the Gauteng City Region provides the basis of assessing whether spatial planning promotes sustainable community development in informal settlement intervention. The study also seeks to understand if there are different perspectives to spatial planning within the different municipalities and if these influence informal settlement interventions. In this regard, this study employs a pragmatic research paradigm, guided by a mixed approach of quantitative and qualitative methodological approach. This entails literature review on the key concepts guiding this study, desktop research, an investigation of local and international case studies in Alexandria in Egypt and Casablanca in Morocco, examination of policies and legislation in South Africa as well as spatial modelling, simulation, mapping and visualisation using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A Sustainable Community Index (SCI) is formulated to measure the sustainability informal settlements within the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM). Each of the municipalities is represented by an informal settlement identified for in-situ upgrading and another one identified for relocation. The SCI scores reveal that none of the four informal settlements under study are sustainable. This means that the intervention measures to address informal settlements, in-situ upgrading or relocation, do not promote sustainable community development (SCD). It is also evident that municipal categories do not determine the sustainability of an informal settlement. Therefore, this study proffers a Sustainable Informal Settlement Intervention Matrix to ensure SCD in addressing informal settlements. The matrix addresses key issues pertaining to housing and the built environment, the economy, the environment, equity and social capital, social and cultural as well as governance aspects of a community. This can be addressed through policies and legislation amendments or in practice at settlement, local, provincial, national or international level.