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I EXPLORING the FRAGMENTS of SPATIAL JUSTICE in an ATTEMPT to PROMOTE SPATIALLY JUST DEVELOPMENT in SOUTH AFRICAN URBAN REGIONS

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I EXPLORING the FRAGMENTS of SPATIAL JUSTICE in an ATTEMPT to PROMOTE SPATIALLY JUST DEVELOPMENT in SOUTH AFRICAN URBAN REGIONS EXPLORING THE FRAGMENTS OF SPATIAL JUSTICE IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROMOTE SPATIALLY JUST DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICAN URBAN REGIONS By ADEFEMI OLAYIDE ADEGEYE September 2018 i EXPLORING THE FRAGMENTS OF SPATIAL JUSTICE IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROMOTE SPATIALLY JUST DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICAN URBAN REGIONS By ADEGEYE ADEFEMI OLAYIDE A Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Town and Regional Planning In the Faculty of Engineering, Built environment and Information Technology, University of Pretoria Supervisor: Dr P. J. van V. Coetzee September 2018 ii Overall, the commentary here on the twilight concept of spatial justice gives a view of justice concerns in applied and theoretical geography that raises more ashes than it settles. In a corner of human geography that is otherwise rather stagnant, this is not wholly untoward. It would be a pity indeed if the busyness of political philosophers was to go completely unnoticed by spatial theorists and applied researchers. Equally, it would be a pity, dare one say unjust, if this essay were to stand alone as a review of implications of that busyness. (On Spatial Justice, G.H. Pirie, 1983) - 1 - Prologue My spatial justice journey began in 2010 when I arrived at the border of South Africa from Nigeria with the intention to study for a Masters’ degree in Urban Planning at the University of Pretoria. As most other foreigners, I was aware of apartheid in South Africa, but was oblivious to the effects it had exerted on the spatial landscape. On my trip from the airport to Pretoria, I saw mainly beautiful landscapes, which did not do it any justice either. Further studies regarding South Africa, my travels around the country and my exposure to the Masters programme, assisted me in grasping the injustices embedded in the geographies of South Africa. From this moment on, I became obsessed with exploring the progress made in South Africa since 1994 in order to undo previous injustices, why these injustices are still prevalent and what to do to undo the inequalities. During the course of my studies, I was also introduced and exposed to the draft versions of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (hereafter referred to as SPLUMA), which was later promulgated in 2013. The concept of spatial justice was presented as one of the main national planning principles for this planning act and it intrigued me and further inspired me to explore and study this concept, specifically in view of my “injustice curiosity” within the South African context. After I completed my Masters’ Degree in 2012, I enrolled for my PhD study in the same department. I braided my study theme and problem statement for my PhD research around the concept of spatial justice, my initial understanding of this concept and my perception of this seemingly strange construct. My journey to understand spatial justice allowed me to transcend into a different spatial dimension and I ultimately became more entangled in the somewhat blurry relationship between justice (as we understand it), and space. Upon starting the study, in trying to understand space and justice, I turned to Lefebvre’s production of space and Plato’s republic as a starting point. These readings; however, remained confusing, and opened up an array of new challenges. In 2013, at the time when my research on spatial justice started gaining momentum, I started working in the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR), which was incidentally the original department responsible for SPLUMA. Part of my work at this department also related to the implementation of the act and its principles, including the principle of spatial justice. - 2 - SPLUMA started gaining further momentum in 2015 and my initial fears became a reality when I noted that there was much confusion and a lack of understanding on how to interpret and implement the developmental principles of the act, and more specifically the principle of spatial justice. In 2017, I learned that the DRDLR also raised the concern that there was a lack of understanding of the development principles, which came as no surprise to me at the time. These concerns in some way underscored the rationale for my PhD study and further inspired me to study and explore this construct, and specifically the relevance of it for spatial planning in South Africa. During the rest of 2017, when I started to conclude my PhD study, I was able to share much of my research with the National Department that was focusing much attention on the implementation of SPLUMA and its principles at the time. Although the concept of spatial justice in SPLUMA primarily relates to spatial planning, land development and land use management, I increasingly began to realise the need to expand this concept to other related sectors involved in planning and development. For me, this PhD study, coincided well with the “spatial justice turn” in planning, which began to unfold during the first two decades of the year 2000. The study has in many ways already succeeded to set the platform for further debate and research. It is my wish that other scholars, especially those in particular government sectors, will further build on this platform to refine and implement this important construct in an attempt to create just and quality urban regions and spaces in the fragmented South African landscape. - 3 - DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY Full names of student: ADEFEMI OLAYIDE ADEGEYE Student number: 10601130 Declaration 1. I understand what plagiarism is and I am aware of the University’s policy in this regard. 2. I declare that this dissertation is my own original work. Where other people’s work has been used (either from a printed source, Internet or any other source), this has been properly acknowledged and referenced in accordance with departmental requirements. 3. I have not used work previously produced by another student or any other person to hand in as my own. 4. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention of passing it off as his or her own work. Signature Date - 4 - SUMMARY For the past two decades in South Africa, there have been various efforts aimed at restructuring the distorted and fragmented spatial form, re-integrating the fragmented spaces and communities and creating sustainable development in general. These aspiring goals were not realised as expected, mainly due to an (un)just government and planning system. A major milestone was however achieved in 2013, after more than a decade’s efforts and struggles to develop the first real planning act for South Africa, namely the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, 2013 (SPLUMA). It is enlightening to note that one of the five main planning principles on which the act is based, emphasises the notion of “spatial justice” which constitutes a policy of inclusion with regard to previously disadvantaged people as well as certain planning and development areas. The National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 also proposed normative principles for spatial development in South Africa of which spatial justice is one of these principles. The NDP 2030 requires an explicit indication of the ways in which to achieve the requirements of spatial justice. The term “spatial justice” had been missing from literature for more than 30 years, only to resurface in 2010 as a concept that was under-theorised at best. The question to be asked is “What is spatial justice and how can it change any landscape, most importantly the South African apartheid landscape?” The research at hand will investigate the concept of spatial justice by carrying out a meta- synthesis of theories, discourses and concepts related to space, justice and the right to the city. The result of the meta-synthesis will assist in developing a working definition of spatial justice and the requirements needed to achieve it namely equity, democracy, diversity as well as just distribution based on need or merit. The study goes further in mapping and assessing spatial justice in certain key areas that were identified as critical nodes in an attempt to achieve spatial justice in a city using the City of Tshwane as a reference city. This revealed possible gaps and future opportunities in support of spatial justice e.g. how to integrate communities and where to provide additional public transport. Mapping and assessing spatial justice allow municipalities to plan better because of the fact that assessment provides important information for future planning and development, identification of priority projects and infrastructure as well as ultimately enhancing the budgeting process in the Integrated Development Plan. - 5 - ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am extremely grateful to God for giving me the strength to complete this dissertation. I acknowledge with profound gratitude the support of my supervisor Dr. Johnny Coetzee whose kind assistance and direction made this dissertation a possibility and Prof. Mark Oranje for the valuable comments he provided. I would like to thank my wife for the encouragement and support she gave me over the years and my parents for their support. I would also like to thank the University of Pretoria for the support provided during the course of the programme. I would like to thank my former colleague Priscilla Namukasa for her valuable inputs and ideas in the application of Geographic Information System. - 6 - TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY ..................................................................................... 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................
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