An analysis of the urban renewal programme of the City of Cape Town : a study of Mitchell's Plain

Date
2006-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : The local sphere of government in South Africa, whether it be local municipalities, district or metropolitan, has been given a distinct role to fulfil in the reconstruction and development planning for its citizens in its jurisdiction. This developmental task, which requires the establishment of sustainable infrastructure, the promotion of socioeconomic development and the building of a moral society, could be accelerated through the effective implementation of an urban renewal programme. Urban Renewal Programmes (URP) requires successful development planning methods, with inclusivity at its heart. The assumption is that the adoption of a comprehensive strategy of development planning, ecological design for community building, and a strong and committed leadership with a participatory approach, could largely be a contributing factor in ensuring long-term sustainability of the URP. Urban renewal seeks to address social exclusion in order to alleviate poverty, thereby reducing unemployment, and advancing spatial and economic integration in the urban core (City of Cape Town, 2004c; Department of Provincial and Local Government, November 2001, March 2004; Hindson and Associates, 2003; South African Cities Network, 2003a, 2003b). This case study, which analyses urban renewal of the City of Cape Town in Mitchell's Plain, was conducted from October 2004 until October 2005, in order to determine whether the community's living conditions were improved through the introduction of the URP. The empirical method used was participant observation at the Mitchell's Plain Sub-council Meetings, Urban Renewal Steering Committee Meetings, Urban Renewal Plenary Meetings for the Mitchell's Plain communities; Mayoral Listening Campaign Meetings on Integrated Development Planning (IDP) in Mitchell's Plain; Meetings of the Mitchell's Plain Development Forum (MPDF) and semi-structured interviews with officials of the City of Cape Town involved in urban renewal in Mitchell's Plain, as well as Councillors deployed to the Mitchell's Plain Sub-council and community members in Mitchell's Plain including the committee members of the MPDF. The study reveals that the City of Cape Town's urban renewal programme in Mitchell's Plain, since its inception in 2001, has been poorly managed and the prospects for its sustainability are limited. The findings of the research conducted through a SWOT-analysis show that the City has strived in its utmost to improve the living conditions of the poor in Mitchell's Plain although this effort is short-term. This indicates that speedy and urgent measures are needed to achieve the desired goals through an urban renewal programme. This thesis argues that a well-managed and successful implementation of the urban renewal programme can improve the lives of the Mitchell's Plain community.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Die plaaslike regerings in Suid Afrika ongeag of hul munisipaal, distrik of metropolitaans van aard is het ‘n besonderse rol om te vervul in die heropbou en ontwikkelingsbeplanning vir hul onderskeie gemeenskappe in hul jurisdiksie. Hierdie ontwikkelingsverpligting vereis die totstandkoming van volhoubare infrastruktuur, bevordering van sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling en die totstandkoming van ‘n morele gemeenskap. Dit kan bespoedig word deur die effektiewe implementering van ‘n stedelike hemuwingsprogram. Stedelikehemuwingsprogramme (SHP) vereis suksesvolle ontwikkelingsbeplanningsmetodes wat ingeslotenheid ten harte dra. Die veronderstelling is dat die aanvaarding van ‘n oorkoepelende strategie van ontwikkelingsbeplanning, ‘n ekologiese ontwerp vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling, en ‘n sterk en vasberade leierskap met ‘n deelnemende aanvoeling, kan ‘n groot bydraende faktor wees in die versekering van die langtermyn volhoubaarheid van die SHP. Stedelike hemuwing streef na die oplossing van sosiale uitsluiting om armoede te verlig, en daarbenewens werkloosheid te verminder ten einde ruimtelike en ekonomiese integrasie in die stedelike kem te bewerkstellig (Stad Kaapstad, 2004c; Departement van Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering, November 2001, November 2001, Maart 2004; Hindson en Vennote, 2003; Suid Afrikaanse Stedelike Netwerk, 2003a, 2003b). Hierdie gevalle-studie wat die ondememing van stedelike hemuwing van die Stad Kaapstad in Mitchell's Plain analiseer was uitgevoer vanaf Oktober 2004 tot Oktober 2005 om te bepaal of die lewensomstandighede van die gemeenskap verbeter het, deur die daarstelling van die SHP. Die ervaringsmetode wat gebruik was is deelnemende observasie tydens Mitchell's Plain Substruktuurontwikkelingloodskomitee-en ontwikkelingforumvergarderings vir die Stedelikehenuwingsprogram vir die gemeenskap van Mitchell's Plain; die Burgermeester Luisterberaad aangaande die heropbou-en ontwikkelingsprogram (HOP) in Mitchell's Plain; Vergaderings van die Mitchell's Plain Ontwikkelingsforum (MPOF) en gedeeltelike gestruktureerde onderhoude met amptenare betrokke in stedelike ontwikkeling in Mitchell's Plain; asook onderhoude met ontplooide Raadslede in die Mitchell's Plain Sub-struktuur en gemeenskapslede in Mitchell's Plain insluitende komiteelede van die MPOF. Die studie openbaar dat die Stad Kaapstad se SHP in Mitchell's Plain vanaf 2001 swak bestuur is en die vooruitsigte van volhoubaarheid skraal is. Die bevindings van die studie wat bepaal is deur middel van ‘n SWOT analise toon dat Stad Kaapstad tot die uiterste gestreef het om die lewensomstandighede van arm mense in Mitchell's Plain te verbeter, alhoewel die poging kort-termyn van aard is. Dit toon dus dat spoedige en dringende maatreels benodig word om die verlangde doelwitte deur ‘n SHP te bereik. Die studie beklemtoon dat ‘n goed bestuurde en suksesvolle implementering van die SHP die lewens van die gemeenskap in Mitchell's Plain kan verbeter.
Description
Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
Keywords
National Urban Renewal Programme (South Africa), Urban renewal -- Mitchell's Plain (Cape Town, South Africa), UCTD
Citation