Browsing by Author "Donaldson, Ronnie"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    An ‘age-regation’ process as theoretical understanding of the gated retirement village
    (SUN MeDIA Bloemfontein, 2012-04) Goldhaber, Ravit; Donaldson, Ronnie
    Gating the elderly appears to be a common and inevitable part of international urban life. In our study we have used the structure-agency relationship to identify and analyse the salient elements of the process of gating. In order to emphasise the dichotomy of the process in which aging people congregate together and, simultaneously, segregate themselves from urban life, we coined the term “age-regation”. We provide a comprehensive and logically structured theoretical framework, in which the theoretical bases of the gated retirement village are discussed within two overarching constructs, namely age (identity, lifestyle) and the congregation/segregation enclave (physical, social, psychological, political, economic, mobility, racial).
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    Apartheid urban development and transitional restructuring in Pietersburg and environs
    (Historical Association of South Africa, 2000) Donaldson, Ronnie; Van der Merwe, Izak
    Effects of urban development on former homelands need to be addressed after the period of urban transition. The article focuses on the evolution of a dispersed city settlement around Pietersburg. Three aspects are covered. Firstly, an outline is given of the apartheid legacy of developing a dispersed settlement system surrounding Pietersburg. Secondly, the post-apartheid local government restructuring of Pietersburg is described. Thirdly, the above historical findings are debated in the context of 'restructuring' Pietersburg after the transition to a new dispensation.
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    Architecture in Southern African informal settlements : a contextually appropriate intervention
    (Urbanistični inštitut RS, 2019) Perold, Rudolf; Donaldson, Ronnie; Devisch, Oswald
    Architectural professionals can contribute to efforts at achieving sustainable urbanism. However, the realm of professional discourse is extremely limited. Grounded architectural practice (GAP) is developed as a conceptual framework to explore an emergent form of contextually appropriate architectural practice in the context of a resident-driven in situ informal settlement upgrading project. The exploration takes the form of a descriptive narrative. Each challenge that arose during the descriptive narrative was mapped according to Engeström’s activity system model, an analytical tool emanating from cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT). By participating in live projects in informal settlements and analysing these projects by means of CHAT, the authors explored the highly improvising and generative everyday practices of the urban majority. Architectural practice in such a context requires a multi-disciplinary approach which extends beyond conventional professional boundaries, and attention must be paid to building the capacity of all participants to function in such uncharted territory.
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    Coping with drought : the experience of water sensitive urban design (WSUD) in the George Municipality
    (Water Research Commission, 2015) Lottering, Naomey; Du Plessis, Danie; Donaldson, Ronnie
    This study investigated the extent of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) activities in the George Municipality in the Western Cape Province, South Africa, and its impact on water consumption. The WSUD approach aims to influence design and planning from the moment rainwater is captured in dams, to when it is treated, and reticulated to consumers, and extending to the point of wastewater re-use, as well as stormwater use. The study identified 8 WSUD sub-activities stemming from 4 main WSUD activities, implemented by the George Local Municipality. Water debtors’ data were sourced in order to measure the effect of 3 of the 8 WSUD sub-activities on water consumption in selected areas. The analysis confirmed that the three WSUD sub-activities had a short-term impact on reducing water consumption in the suburbs where they were implemented. It is recommended that the municipality focus on improved planning and implementation of a diverse range of WSUD activities and implementing information and monitoring systems to evaluate the impact of these measures.
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    Knowledge-based service industry in a South African university town : the case of Stellenbosch
    (Carfax Publishing, Taylor and Francis Ltd, 2012-08) Adendorff, Anita; Donaldson, Ronnie
    Knowledge-based service industries, because they are geographically ‘footloose’, have the potential to contribute to small town and city economies. The university town of Stellenbosch, identified as having a high growth potential, is the location of a growing IT and knowledge-based service sector. Data from questionnaires completed by 104 Stellenbosch companies provided some insight into why they chose this town. Most said that, provided sufficient IT is available, they would be able to function as effectively in another town. This implies that they locate in Stellenbosch as a matter of preference rather than necessity. The paper provides insights into the reasons for the spatial clustering in South African non-metropolitan areas and how companies decide where to locate.
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    Opening up to the World: An Exploration of Residents’ Opinions on and Perceptions of St Helena Island’s Tourism Development
    (2020-12) Donaldson, Ronnie; Forssman, Adrian
    St Helena Island, often regarded as one of the most remote places on earth, is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom and generally considered geographically as ‘part’ of Africa. Economically, the island is wholly dependent on British aid. Once important as a stop for trading ships for some 400 years, the island has suffered the same problems faced by many other small island economies: a lack of natural resources, diseconomies of scale, net outmigration, and a dependence on aid and remittances. Tourism has been earmarked as an important sector which has the potential to contribute significantly to the economy of St Helena, especially after the completion of the St Helena Airport. The purpose of this research reported here was to determine the level of tourism development on St Helena since its ‘opening up’ to the world after the first passenger flight touched down in 2017, by applying Butler’s tourism area life cycle model and Doxey’s irridex model. These models provided the framework for qualitatively determining the level of tourism development. An e-survey was conducted among residents about their expectations of tourism development. St Helena has been trapped in the involvement stage for decades while being inhibited by its remoteness and accessibility issues. It is clear from the evidence that some of the island’s tourism characteristics relate to the involvement stage, whereas others are synonymous with the development stage. It is thus reasonable to argued that St Helena currently lies in a flux between the involvement and development stages of the Butler model. The opening of the airport is conceivably the springboard necessary for leaving behind all the impeding features of the involvement stage.
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    A revision of the 2004 growth potential of towns in the Western Cape study
    (Stellenbosch University, 2010-03) Van Niekerk, Adriaan; Donaldson, Ronnie; Du Plessis, Manie; Spocter, Manfred
    One of the objectives of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) is to undertake spatial planning that promotes and guides the sustainable future development of the Western Cape province and redresses spatial inequalities. This goal led to the development of the Provincial Spatial Development Framework (PSDF), which identifies the areas of growth in the province and the areas where, in terms of the sustainable development paradigm, growth should be emphasised in the future. It also addresses the form that this growth or development should take and further emphasises the restructuring of urban settlements to facilitate their sustainability. To provide guidance and support for implementing the PSDF, a thorough understanding and knowledge of the characteristics and performances of all the settlements in the province is needed.
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    Urban land restitution in Cape Town : demanding the return of land rights in Constantia and Kensington/Ndabeni
    (De Gruyter Open, 2014-12-11) Donaldson, Ronnie; Hyman, Glen; Chang, David; Confiado, Andre; Ruiz, Ana Maria; Salud, Ssicaru; Yildiz, Sanem
    One of the hallmark policies implemented post-apartheid, the Restitution of Land Rights Act 22 of 1994, is a rights-based program aimed at addressing the loss of land resulting from past racially discriminatory laws or practices. The aim of this research was to identify what are the factors that determine the different outcomes of the restitution process when claimants are demanding the return of land rights and to highlight the challenges regarding the implementation of this land restitution policy. Focusing on two specific yet contrasting areas in Cape Town, Constantia and Kensington, it was determined that due to factors pertaining to the lands in question, the neighborhood surrounding the lands, the claimants, as well as the organization, function, and performance of different public entities, the policy has managed to fulfill restorative justice, but has yet to fulfill its ultimate goal of returning land rights to the claimants and undoing the injustices of the apartheid regime.