2016 Honours Reports
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- ItemJohannesburg city officials’ visions for low income housing typologies along the Corridors of Freedom(UNIVERSITY OF WITWATERSRAND FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, 2016) Lembede, Xolile Minentle
- ItemSocial networks, Migrants and Densification.(UNIVERSITY OF WITWATERSRAND FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, 2016) Mphatsoe, PulaneThe ambiguous nature of cities has long been discussed by many scholars. Cities are both spaces of opportunity and abject poverty; connectivity to global circuits of goods, people and ideas, yet concurrently contain spaces of marginalisation (Kihato, 2009). The increase in backyard dwellings over the years has highlighted the high demand, and low supply for low-income housing in Johannesburg where many South Africans and international migrants relocate to for greater opportunities. This research report aims to document the relationship between backyard densification and the strategies of integration of migrants into their new host society. These experiences will be documented on the basis of social networks and interaction between the migrants and the locals. The urban form associated with backyard living provides a proximity which fosters intentioned and unintended interaction between neighbours. Backyard densification facilitates access and sustainability of social networks used by migrant women. These social networks play a significant role in the post migratory experiences of migrant women living in backyard dwellings in that they offer various types of support such as trading land, financial and emotional support and childcare just name a few. This research forms part of a greater study on resilient densification in Johannesburg, and though its scope is limited, I hope it will stir up further research pertaining to migration, gender and social networks.
- ItemSpatial Re-Configuration of Backyard Dwelling in Bram Fischerville(UNIVERSITY OF WITWATERSRAND FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, 2016) Selepe, ReitumetseInformal housing such as backyard housing in South Africa is essential as it has manged to absorb the low income group of people who cannot enter the formal market. Backyard housing offers a place where people can access services, employment opportunities as well as help maintain livelihoods. The research aims to illustrate how backyard dwellers have used spatial reconfiguration a strategy that helps them adapt to their accommodation circumstances. The finding has revealed the relationship between socio-economic and spatial aspects of backyard housing. These aspects not only contribute to the development of backyard housing, but as a way to maintain livelihoods.
- ItemThe views of government officials on the Integrated Development Plan as a framework for local government that is developmental and responsive to peoples’ needs [Gauteng].(UNIVERSITY OF WITWATERSRAND FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, 2016) Manzini, SiyabongaAt the crux of the developmental approach to local government in South Africa is the Integrated Development Plan enshrined in the Municipal Systems Act 2000.The integrated Development Plan has become an important tool in post-apartheid South Africa and remains the principal strategic planning instrument which guides and informs all planning and development, and all decisions with regards to planning, management and development in the municipalities. As such the IDP as a tool provides a framework for development and is intended to coordinate the input of local as well as the other spheres of government in a rational manner that improves the overall quality of life for local communities. However, more than two decades into democracy studies still point to communities who experience socio-economic exclusion and spatial poverty, without reasonable opportunities to transform their reality. As a result, this study investigated the views of government officials (involved in municipal integrated development processes) on the Integrated Development Plan as a framework for local government that is developmental and responsive to people’s needs. This was done uncover the strengths, weaknesses, successes and failures that accompany the implementation of the Integrated Development Plan across municipalities in Gauteng.
- ItemExploring City official’s practices of community engagement(UNIVERSITY OF WITWATERSRAND FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, 2016) Molema, LebogangPublic participation is the cornerstone of democracy in South Africa, and it is at the local government that most of the community engagement is undertaken. However with this being said there are a number of signs that indicate that South African people are unsatisfied with how the state engages with them. This paper looked at public participation from the official’s perspective, as it attempted to understand some of the challenges they face, the complexities of undertaking community as well how they navigate these challenges and complexities. The research study was conducted on officials of the Development Facilitation Unit at the Johannesburg Development Agency. Two dimensions of community engagement were presented. Firstly community engagement meetings and how they were conducted, and secondly what officials do with the information that is received from communities, this is what the research refers to as ‘the behind the scene work’.