Browsing by Author "Duma, David Makhosonke."

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Evaluating the impact of public open spaces on the prevalence of lifestyle diseases among the youth living in the Central Business District of eThekwini.
(2023) Nzuza, Nkululeko Pedro.; Duma, David Makhosonke.
The advent of industrial revolution created economic opportunities in urban centres. People flocked to the cities in search of economic opportunities to improve their lives. Urbanisation escalated social problems such as overcrowding, poor sanitation, diseases, and pollution in urban centres. With the chaos that followed industrial revolution, city authorities developed comprehensive master plans as instruments to manage social problems and mitigate against the adverse effects of urbanization (Batty & Marshal, 2009). Comprehensive master plans became a planning instrument with which to physically structure city development and to influence how people lived in and interacted with the environment in industrial cities. By adopting master plans, lawmakers assumed that they would solve the many social and physical problems that plagued industrial cities following the industrial revolution (Batchelor, 1969). Elements of comprehensive planning included zoning controls, which proposed the separation of incompatible land uses for the public good. For example, allocating space for residential, recreational, commercial and industrial land uses. It was hoped that, by spatially ordering land uses the negative impacts of overcrowding, pollution and noise levels on city dwellers would be minimised. That, interventions such as zoning controls, would improve the quality of life for urban dwellers (Kostof, 1991; California Law Review, 1921). Zoning enabled affluent urban residents who could commute by car between their homes and the city centre, to live in suburbs. The suburbs were designed with better planned public amenities such as community parks and playgrounds, which played a significant role in promoting a healthy lifestyle in the neighbourhood. Low-income earners and other minority communities resided in the bustling central business district (CBD), which in many instances was afflicted by crime, grime, noise and overcrowding (Thompson,2007). Like the suburbs that enjoyed better amenities, the CBD required similar amenities to make it appealing to city dwellers. The provision and maintenance of social amenities such as squares, parks, gardens, and playgrounds would enable city residents to enjoy a better quality of life. Public open spaces play a positive role in nurturing a healthy lifestyle of a community; they create spaces for social and physical interaction. Places where people live have an impact on human health and well-being. Health-related lifestyles of individuals were likely to be affected by their environment. The living conditions in the urban environment are important to the health and well-being of its people (Lestan, Erzan & Golobic, 2014; World Health Organization, 2013). A passive lifestyle and sedentary behaviour were associated with the prevalence of risk factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol drinking, physical inactivity and unhealthy diets that cause lifestyle diseases among young people living in urban areas (Oosthuizen, Jinabhai, Terblanche & Beck, 2008). The study sought to indicate that public open spaces , as a town planning intervention, can be a catalyst to address the incidence and prevalence of lifestyle diseases among the youth living in eThekwini. The study drew on linkages between the prevalence of lifestyle diseases and the built environment to highlight the spatial dimension as a critical intervention to address health concerns. Also, to highlight the fact that the configuration of space can yield positive or negative outcomes on the incidence and prevalence of lifestyle diseases among the youth. It further sought to highlight that policy interventions on the provision, accessibility and management of public open spaces would encourage their use to reduce the prevalence of lifestyle diseases. The study found that social barriers such crime from homeless people “amaparah”, inaccessibility and distance of public open spaces from places of residence negatively affected the use of the public open spaces by the youth. It further found that behavioural factors such as access to technological devices (television and smartphones) encouraged young people living in the urban core to engage in sedentary lifestyles and deprived themselves of the health benefits associated with being physically active outdoors. The main research question was to evaluate whether policy makers made adequate provision for public open spaces when developing urban regeneration plans. This study hypothesised that configuring the built environment would have positive health outcomes on the health and wellbeing of the youth demographics (age and gender) in the central business district (CBD) of eThekwini.
The relevance of communicative planning theory to the integrated development planning.
(2002) Duma, David Makhosonke.; Bornstein, Lisa.
The research explores the relevance of communicative planning theory to South Africa's new development planning approach: the Integrated Development Planning. Communicative planning theorists claim that communication that meets Habermas's validity claims ofcomprehensibility, sincerity, legitimacy and truth could result in consensus being reached which will reduce power and conflict between participants. Tlie research investigates the extent to which the above contentions are valid in the context of Durban Metropolitan's Outer West Local Council's Integrated Development Planning. The research investigates the extent to which communication results in consensus. The research hypothesises that power is an important factor"in determining outcomes. The research explores the following questions in more detail: how does power of various actors shape planning outcomes? How does power penetrate good intentions of communicative planning? Is it meaningful to operate with a concept of communication in which power is absent? What is the impact of asymmetrical power relations to communication that is aimed at development planning? Is consensus an achievable ideal? Given the new and changing role of planners, can the planners' professional judgement be "neutralised" and can they act as valueneutral participants as the theorists claim? Tewdwr-Jones & Alldimendinger (1998) are critical of the diminishing role that is given to the planner by the collaborative planning theory. The research investigates the role of the planner by asking the following questions: what is and what should the role of planner be given that collaborative planning or communicative planning theorists tend to remove the planner from the centre to the periphery? Should there be a planner at all or can the community through participatory planning do it all by themselves without the need tor the 'expertise' ofa planner? What are the obstacles to eftective public participation that is aimed at building consensus and to what extent can individual stakeholders participate meaningfully. The assumption ofthe communicative planning theory is that when there is platform to participate, people will argue, talk, debate and negotiate. The research also contextualises the study by looking at contemporary literature on changing urban landscape: the new models ofmunicipal administration and governance ie.public-private partnerships, the macro-economic trends that would aftect the delivery ofplans and services. To accomplish this, the research looks at communicative planning theory in relation to the actual local development planning practice of the chosen case study area. There are principles of communicative planning which are similar to those ofthe IDP approach which make it safe for one to claim some resemblances between theory and the new approach. One such principle is the emphasis placed on communication between the planner and resident communities achieved through public meetings/workshops. The findings of this research show that communicative planning theory is relevant to South Africa's new Integrated Development Planning. The results of this research also show that communicative planning that meet the validity claims ofcomprehensibility, honesty, legitimacy and truthfuJnessare important because in the case study under discussion, development was derailed by the lack ofpolitical legitimacy (authority) and lack ofpower to take decisions, as a result the power of resident community overwhelmed those of planning consultants. Conflict resolution was not reached through communication between planners and resident communities because participants exercise their power to the detriment ofthe whole process. There were some difficulties in the application of communicative theory to real life planning practice in that the theory push for communication yet during participation citizens did not have enough skill and expertise that would enable them to participate meaningfully in the planning sessions. Communication therefore became a mere question and answer exercise and lacked effective argumentation, dialogue, negotiation, proper talk and debating. The findings of this research show that it is meaningless to operate with a concept of communication in which power is absent. Power has indeed been an important factor in determining outcomes in this planning initiative. To a greater extent, communication was penetrated by asymmetrical power relations between interlocutors - to such an extent that the development planning process came to a stand still. The findings also show that communicative rationality is a means to an end and not an end in itself The end product is a document which has to be produced using some technical rationalities. It was clear from the planning episodes and from interviews that consensus is not an achievable ideal. There are many factors that influence reaching consensus. The research also showed that it is not possible for planners to adopt a valueneutral stance during planning meetings given that they themselves are an interested party and not just observers. Their education and training makes them an interest group in their own right. The research has shown that true community participation (argumentation, talk, debate, negotiation) is dependent on the skills level of participants, their education, experience, background and personalities; these became hindrances or obstacles to effective communication. It was clear from the findings that the role ofplanners during the planning workshops is increasing instead of diminishing as the theorists contend. There are additional roles that planners have to play including capacity building, advising communities, playing advocacy role, filtering and mediating information and interests of various parties during planning meetings. There were technical skills that could only be obtained from the qualified planner, namely the ability to delineate boundaries using maps, writing technical reports and the ability to selectively collate information for processing using sophisticated computer packages.
Sustainable coastal management and the Admiralty Reserve in Umdoni Municipality : towards an understanding of the Admiralty Reserve encroachments.
(2005) Duma, David Makhosonke.; Garland, Gerald George.
The dissertation's point of departure and contention is that the Admiralty Reserve is one of the Coastal Resources facing degradation due to the fact that it is a common property owned by the State President on behalf of all citizens of South Africa. The environmental management function has become the unfunded mandate of local authorities therefore the administration, control and management of the Admiralty Reserve is the responsibility of local government in terms of various lease agreements. There are currently no specific tools available to local government to manage the Admiralty Reserve. The encroachment of the Admiralty Reserve has been and still is a problem for all coastal municipalities including Umdoni municipality. The rationale for the topic was to study the geography of the Admiralty Reserve, the causes of encroachments and the way in which the local authorities dealt (past and present) with the Admiralty Reserve encroachments; to assess the strategies employed by the municipalities in dealing with encroachments, and with the traditional and evolving functions of the Admiralty Reserve. This was done using standard research methods and techniques. The study is located in one of the small coastal municipalities of South Africa called Umdoni, in the Province of Kwazulu-Natal. The results of the study show that the past and present strategies of dealing with encroachments were adversarial in stance and not collaborative. The failure to administer and manage efficiently can be attributed to the following reasons: lack of capacity to deal with environmental matters and legislation, lack of political willpower, negligence on the part of both national and local government spheres, lack of stewardship, lack of proper education, training and knowledge of environmental issues and negative attitudes towards environmental matters. It was also revealed that generally people encroach into the Reserve because of greed and selfishness. One of the conclusions drawn from the findings was that the Admiralty Reserve has become a victim of fragmented control and management by various spheres of government. The Admiralty Reserve requires an integrated management approach that incorporates civic organizations, the relevant government departments, the local authority and the interested and affected individuals. Local authorities are not given proper tools to manage the Admiralty Reserve. There are many laws but none of them are relevant to the Admiralty Reserve. In the absence of usable legislative tools relevant to the Admiralty Reserve encroachments, it is highly recommended and imperative that coastal local authorities (particularly Umdoni Municipality) should formulate and strengthen their bylaws.
The transformative role of the planning profession in adaptation to and mitigation against climate change: the case study of Umlazi township.
(2021) Khanyile, Londeka Amanda.; Duma, David Makhosonke.
In a 4th industrial revolution world, cities are recognized as essential places for tackling the prominent environmental issue of climate change, both by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adjusting to the adverse impacts of climate change. In its accelerating form more especially in developing countries, it is best to address both the causes and the impacts climate change has holistically. Besides, allowing both these strategies to take place enables other professions to contribute towards achieving the common goal of reducing or rather eradicate climate change. The main purpose of this research study is to investigate the transformative role that the town planning fraternity plays in adaptation to and mitigation against climate change using Umlazi Section H, eThekwini Municipality, as a case study. The research method used for this study was qualitative approach. The method was used in conjunction with in-depth interviews, focus groups and observation to gather data. The study revealed that the planning profession plays a vital role in conjunction with other departments/branches such as the environmental planning and climate protection and the department of transport in achieving climate change adaptation and mitigation. The study found that this is achieved through monitoring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from both private cars and public transport, advocating for green building designs, and transitioning from coal-based energy to renewable energy, and managing land use. To build on this success, the researcher recommends that the collaborative teamwork between the involved departments continues and for each department to play its role to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of these strategies.