Engineering and the Built Environment Departments

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Browsing Engineering and the Built Environment Departments by Author "Bikam, P."

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    Evaluating the criteria for allocation of development projects in the context of spatial development frameworks in Thulamela Local Municipality
    (2019-05-18) Thiba, M. C.; Bikam, P.; Chakwizira, James
    The study evaluates the criteria for allocation of development projects to communities using key guideline documents from municipalities such as the Spatial Development Frameworks and the Integrated Development Plans. Allocation of development projects in local municipalities must be well informed and must prioritise community needs hence the need for an objective process to the allocation of projects in communities. The study focused on one rural local municipality, Thulamela Local Municipality due to the level of service delivery protests and service delivery dissatisfaction experienced in the municipality that led to the 2016 municipal boundary redefinition process and a request of a new municipality called Collins Chabane. In this study, the name Malamulele which was under Thulamela Local Municipality is used interchangeably with the new name Collins Chabane. The study utilised the Evaluation Survey Approach to determine the allocation of projects in different communities in Thulamela local municipality. Both qualitative and quantitative research techniques, using Evaluation Survey Approach to unpack the implications of misbalanced allocation of development projects in rural communities were used. Data was collected through household questionnaires, key informant interviews and field observations. Key informants were selected through purposive random sampling techniques while household surveys were accomplished through stratified random sampling technique. Collected data on the role of government with respect to service delivery, criteria on the allocation, economic and demographic profiles, infrastructure and community service provision and principles of project allocation are presented, discussed, processed and analysed through thematic content analysis, SPSS and Microsoft Excel Packages. Based on the study’s findings of insufficient public participation, misalignment of SDF/SDBIP/IDP, lack of fund and planning, boundary disputes among others, the researcher then makes recommend the strategy for the allocation of development projects that involves outlining the criterion used to allocate development projects, adequate public participation, improved level of SDF alignment and principles for improved developmental project allocations in rural municipalities.
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    Exploring access to basic services to support local economic development: a case study of Mahwelereng, Mogalakwena Local Municipality
    (2023-05-19) Nemakhavhani, Tshilidzi; Chakwizira, J.; Bikam, P.
    The study focuses on exploring access to basic services to support local economic development in Mahwelereng area, Mogalakwena Local Municipality. Provision of basic services has been a challenge in most of the local municipalities in South Africa. In most of these municipalities, the basic service delivery challenges have resulted in public protests. It is in this context that several regions within South Africa have experienced service delivery protests since 1994, which are characterised by increased violence and local governance system inefficiency debates. The Mogalakwena Local Municipality as part of local government is mandated to fulfil constitutional obligations to ensure that provision of sustainable, effective, and efficient basic services (such as water, sanitation, electricity, refuse removal and roads networks) to the communities, while promoting social and local economic development in the area that they serve. The supply of basic services in Mokgalakwena Local Municipality has over the years experienced severe infrastructural and delivery challenges which involve poor capacity, electricity blackouts and disruptions, poor sanitation, rapid loss of water supply due to leaks, and service provision management challenges. A qualitative research approach was employed in this study because the study was explanatory and descriptive in nature. This approach assisted in investigating the study problem, its nature, magnitude, and severity within the specific social and or geographic settings rather than broader populations. The primary data source were interviews, while the secondary sources was documents reviews, Integrated Development Plan (IDP), Spatial Development Framework (SDF) and Integrated Transport Plan (ITP), which included books, journals, dissertations, and reports. The sampled key informant population or target groups in the study area included community members, ward committee members or councillors, managers, and technicians of the Mogalakwena municipal area. The findings are expressed by means of discussing the extent of the provision of basic services to support local economic development in communities. Furthermore, they were determined by the impacts of poor service delivery on supporting local economic development and challenges experienced by the local municipalities in terms of basic service delivery. Based on the findings and analyses, the study recommended a raft of strategies that can be used by the Municipalities in improving basic service delivery to the residents; those strategies include Performance Measurement, Motivation, Capacity building within municipalities. Strengthening V I | P a g e and better aligning the IDP, SDF and ITP is one way through which the systems of planning at local government level can be improved to better support sustainable access to basic services, local economic growth and development. However, implementing these study findings must be done in adherence and compliance to existing legislative and policy frameworks. Furthermore, the study concluded that Mogalakwena Municipality should further streamline and strengthen the effective and efficient legislative and policy framework that underpin the adequate provision of basic services to the residents of Mahwelereng. In addition, the implementation and updating of local economic growth and development policies, strategies and ancillary programmatic action coupled with implementing new and amending existing by-laws that support satisfactory basic service delivery to the residents of Mahwelereng should be a top development priority in local government areas such as typified by the study area.
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    Implications of municipal service consumer debts on service delivery in rural municipalities: A case study of municipalities in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province South Africa
    (2018-09-21) Tivavone, Brilliant; Bikam, P.; Chakwizira, P.
    Rural municipalities in South Africa have been grappling with delivering quality services to communities due to shrinking revenue bases over the last ten years. The study explored the relationship between consumer debt recovery and municipal service delivery in three selected municipalities in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. The implications of revenue collection in rural areas was examined through the computation of the Coefficient Effect Size Model which aimed at proving whether rurality had an effect on payment of rates and taxes. A combination of Goal Achievement Matrix and Correlation Quotient analysis were used to explain the linkage between service delivery and the resource base of rural municipalities. The Rurality Quotient and the Coefficient Effect Size were both developed in the study to link the rurality nature of municipalities to the viability of rural municipalities to provide services. The review of literature incorporated an appraisal of municipal policy documents such as the Integrated Development Plans, Spatial Development Plans, Annual Budget Reports and Service Delivery Budget Implementation Plan. The study findings revealed that consumer debts resulted in rural municipalities failing to generate revenue thus affecting internal revenue pockets. Furthermore it was discovered that rural municipalities were recording a negative effect size as well as a negative Rurality Quotient thus proving that rurality directly affected the level of payment of services. The projection showed a significant probability of a steady increase in consumer debts in rural municipalities in the next ten years if the issues and challenges are not addressed effectively. Therefore a Rural Consumer Debt Recovery Framework tool was proposed to provide clear guidelines on how rural municipalities can deal with non-payment of rates and taxes. In addition to this a review and update of all revenue enhancement policies such as the Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy to match the changes occurring over time in rural municipalities is necessary to change the current status of revenue collection in municipalities.
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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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    Outcomes of Trans-border Spatial Development Cooperation: Insights from Musina and Beitbridge Twinning Agreement
    (2017-05-18) Nyamwanza, Shylet A.; Bikam, P.; Chakwizira, J.
    Current studies reveal that adjacent municipalities can achieve more if they plan and share resources collaboratively. The study assessed the impact of trans-border spatial development cooperation with respect to a twinning agreement signed between the Musina local municipality, South Africa, and the Beitbridge Rural District Council, Zimbabwe in October 2004. It unpacks to the extent to which the twinning agreement objectives were achieved in terms of spatial development. The assessment revolved around six specific objectives using a trans- border twinning performance evaluation survey approach. The assessment of the implementation of the agreement focused on desirable outcomes, inputs in terms of resources, the implementation process involved in terms of effectiveness and efficiency, outputs in terms of targets achieved, impact with respect to where they are now, who needs to do what and when and whether the planning and implementation process was effective. Research questions were investigated using 14 key informant interviews, 347 questionnaires and direct field observations with the aid of an impact evaluation survey approach. The study showed that the challenges faced in municipal twinning agreements range from institutional, structural to financial. It was evident that the Musina-Beitbridge twinning agreement did not have a concrete implementation plan from 2004 to 2016. The spatial planning goals indicated in the twinning document were not achieved. The Joint coordination meetings were no longer being conducted, benchmarking exercises were not conducted, the goals were not time-bound, there was no standalone budget, no central secretariat and lastly, the majority of the local residents were not aware of the twinning’s existence. The study recommended a strategic trans-border implementation framework which addresses initial planning provisions, resource allocation, stakeholder participation and ensuring that targets are achieved as well as mitigating risks.
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    Spatial transformation in the City of Polokwane, South Africa (1996-2016)
    (2021-06-23) Moffat, Frank; Chakwizira, J.; Ingwani, E.; Bikam, P.
    The World urban population is increasing rapidly, in a context in which small, intermediate towns and cities have been found to be inadequately prepared to manage such pressures. One area in which cities have been underperforming is tracking spatial transformation. This study explores spatial transformation in the City of Polokwane from 1996 to 2016. The problem in the study area is that City of Polokwane lacks an integrated framework for tracking spatial transformation. The objectives of the study were to, (i) analyse the legislative and policy framework directions for spatial transformation in the City of Polokwane (ii) map spatial transformation in Polokwane City using spatial indicators, (iii) analyse the drivers of spatial transformation in the City of Polokwane (iii) establish the implications of spatial transformation in the City of Polokwane and (iv) develop an integrated framework for tracking spatial transformation in small and intermediate cities in South Africa. A pragmatic paradigm philosophical approach underpins the study, supplemented by mixed methods research approach and case study strategy. The sample size for the study comprised of 588 households, it was calculated using the Raosoft online sample size calculator. The sampling procedures adopted in this study include purposive sampling, snow ball sampling and stratified random sampling method, resulting in the proportional distribution of the sample in the following nodal areas; Polokwane (327), Seshego (184) and Mankweng (77). The primary data sources for this study included; household spatial transformation questionnaire survey, key expert interviews, observations, and mapping. Secondary data sources included institutional documents and records, key spatial transformation textbooks, geospatial data sets, internet and library datasets where the researcher accessed relevant information on spatial transformation in the City of Polokwane. Data analysis on the 116 mesozones polygons that are linked to the GIS databases containing 1996, 2001, 2011, 2016 census data was guided by the dimensions of spatial transformation mapping triad linked to relevant spatial indicators. The spatial indicators employed agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis, to generate choropleth thematic maps using ArcGIS depicting empirical spatial transformation in the City of Polokwane from 1996 to 2016. Quantitative data analysis was aided with Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) for descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis (EFA), to determine the drivers and implication of spatial transformation in the City of Polokwane. Qualitative data analysis in this study employed content analysis to gain an in depth understanding of spatial transformation and guide development of an integrated framework for tracking spatial transformation in small and intermediate cities. This was augmented with the use of Atlas.ti, for generating word cloud guided by deductive reasoning approach, and research questions from the study within the purview of critical discourse theoretical framework. The findings for the study provide the following contributions to knowledge on spatial transformation; (i) legislative and policy directions on spatial transformation in the City of Polokwane (ii) maps showing empirical evidence on spatial transformations in the City of Polokwane (1996-2016) (iii) drivers of spatial transformation in the City of Polokwane (iv) social, environmental, economic, government/policy and spatial planning implications of spatial transformation in the City of Polokwane (v) an integrated framework for tracking spatial transformation in small and intermediate cities in South Africa.
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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.