Department of Urban and Regional Planning

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Browsing Department of Urban and Regional Planning by Author "Gondo, T."

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    Exploring town-gown developmental paradigms : A case of University of Venda's 'Univen Town concept'
    (2017-05-18) Moffat, Frank; Anyumba, G.; Ingwani, E.; Gondo, T.
    University towns or town gown relationships are increasingly becoming an accepted developmental narrative between institutions of higher learning and their host communities. The University of Venda was mandated by the Honourable Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr. Blade Nzimande, in October 2014, to devise a university town strategy aimed at developing Thohoyandou and its rural environs to become a university town. The University of Venda in its approach towards the development of a university town has adopted the new governance approach of formulating innovative collaborative partnerships with its surrounding stakeholders that include Limpopo Premier’s Office, Vhembe District Municipality, Thulamela Local Municipality, VBS Mutual Bank, Madzivhandila Agricultural College and Traditional leaders. The study approach adopted quantitative research method. Its centre piece was the Optimal College Town Assessment (OCTA) a quantitative tool which was utilized to gather data from the representatives of the university and Thohoyandou town stakeholders. To test the town and gown developmental paradigm, this study explored student housing development possibilities as a manifestation of university-community partnerships. The study findings highlight that existing town-gown relationships between the University of Venda and its stakeholders are categorized as traditional relationship type which is characterized by low effort and higher comfort level. Institutional context roles that the University of Venda should play in the successful development of town-gown partnerships were also established. The study identified the factors essential for the development of viable and functional innovative collaborative university-stakeholder’s partnerships for the University of Venda and the town of Thohoyandou and its stakeholders. The study findings also show that there is potential for student housing development when there are positive town-gown relationships. This is in line with the calls from South Africa’s Ministry of Higher Education and Training expectations to resolve student housing backlogs facing public universities. This study recommends the improvement of town-gown relationships and it provides a conceptual model indicating the building blocks that the university should adopt to develop successful, innovative, viable and functional town-gown partnerships.
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    Investigating prospects of integrating spatial planning with disaster risk reduction in flood prone settlements of Greater Tzaneen Municipality of Limpopo Province in South Africa
    (2019-05-18) Tladi, Mazwi Thapelo; Gondo, T.; Bikam, P.
    Disaster is posing serious threats to both human lives, infrastructure and the environment at large. Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) is one of the many municipalities that suffer from flood related disasters. Lack of integration between Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and spatial planning has compounded the disaster risk situation in the municipality. This study sought to investigate the prospects of integrating spatial planning with disaster risk reduction in flood prone areas of GTM. The study is guided by three research objectives. First, the study sought to analyse spatial planning attributes that can be valorised for DRR in flood prone areas; Secondly, it sought to analyse spatial planning factors that define vulnerability attributes of households occupying flood prone areas. Finally, the study sought to perform a cluster analytical creation of a typology of households whose resilience to flooding could be enhanced through spatial planning. Twenty-five flood prone areas were analysed on the basis of four main flood vulnerability attributes. In order to identify such vulnerability attributes, the study borrowed critical insights from literatures on flood vulnerability, spatial planning and DRR. Such a critical review of literature was complemented by the use of pattern matching as a qualitative research instrument. Quantitative that was gathered using a structured observation checklist. Quantitative data generated was first subjected to various statistical tests that included Normality and Reliability Tests. Common measures of Normality test used included measures of skewness, kurtosis and the use of Normal Q-Q plots. To assess flood vulnerability, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) was used. HCA was used to identify clusters of flood prone areas which had common characteristics in terms of the four main study constructs proposed by the study which included the physical/engineering, socio-economic, ecological/natural and political or governance conditions characterizing each area. HCA was then used to identify main clusters exhibiting similar characteristics and the associated level of vulnerability of such of communities occupying such clusters. Study results revealed 2 main clusters of flood prone areas whose differences lay in interactions that existed between the physical/engineering, socio-economic, ecological/natural and political or governance conditions characterizing each area. Such clusters depicted 2 levels of vulnerability that is high, and moderate. A number of opportunities and constraints were generated using the SWOT matrix strategy with the main results showing that spatial planning elements characterizing flood prone areas could be transformed into critical urban risk management options for DRR. This is because a spatial planning elements were found to have a direct influences on critical factors of DRR such as location of activities. The study concluded by recommending a number of spatial planning strategies that can be vaporized for DRR. Such strategies are systematically aligned to the unique vulnerability context conditions associated with the two flood vulnerability solution arrived at using HCA.
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    An urban planning perspective on the readiness of Thohoyandou CBD public spaces in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic: a case study of Thohoyandou CBD
    (2023-10-05) Ratshilingana, Mudanalwo Maryline; Gondo, T.; Bikam, P.
    Thohoyandou CBD public spaces need to be ready in the future to urgently react to pandemics. This study aims to introduce urban planning measures that must be taken into consideration to improve the current performance of public spaces in reducing the spread of COVID-19. The study is guided by four research objectives which are as follows, (i) To analyse urban planning and urban management attributes that are critical in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in public spaces. (ii) To identify and categorize public spaces that are likely to pose a threat to limiting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thohoyandou CBD. (iii)To determine urban management factors that are significant to COVID- 19 in public spaces of Thohoyandou CBD and (iv) To come up with an urban planning-based resilience framework that will boost the ability of public spaces to respond to the challenges of a pandemic. Twenty-five public spaces were analysed based using five study constructs, which included waste management attributes, water provision attributes, ecological/environmental attributes, demographic attributes, and public space management and behaviours. Data was analysed using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), Multiple regression Analysis (MRA) and analysis of standardised mean score z-values. Data screening procedures were employed using normality test measures of skewness and kurtosis. Results revealed that there are five critical issues that need to be addressed if we are to limit the spread of COVID-19 in public spaces. These include waste management, water provision, public space user demographics, public space management behaviors and environment integrity issues. HCA results revealed two unique categories of public spaces based on their responsiveness to the spread of COVID -19. Cluster 1(one) is made up of 10 public spaces accounting for 40 % of the total and Cluster 2 is made up of 15 public spaces accounting for 60 %. Cluster 2 type of public spaces are generally performing relatively well in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic as evidenced by positive and high standardized mean score z values when compared to cluster 1 (one) type of public spaces. MRA results revealed that the most significant (P value <0.05) attribute capable of reducing the spread of COVID-19 is water provision. The study concluded by recommending a resilience framework aimed at reducing the risk and exposure to COVID- 19 as well as building public pace capacity to withstand challenges posed by future pandemics. Critical interventions for building resilience should focus on such issues as building functional waste management and water facilities, redesigning of some public spaces, deployment of smart technologies, improved infrastructure maintenance and public space monitoring as well as rolling out of education campaigns. More intervention efforts should be directed to 40 % of public spaces belonging to cluster 1 as they were found to be severely compromised.