The Politics of Megaprojects: Assessing the Socio-Spatial and Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Dig-Out Port in South Durban
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The Politics of Megaprojects: Assessing the Socio-Spatial and Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Dig-Out Port in South Durban By Aubrey Mpungose 211521214 Submitted in fulfilment of the academic requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Geography, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of KwaZulu Natal Westville Campus December 2017 ABSTRACT Megaprojects are continuing to transform urban landscapes, and take the form of large development projects such as railways, bridges, ports, dams, shopping malls and iconic skyscrapers. For cities, megaprojects act as marketing and branding strategies, promoting the neoliberal quest to be internationally competitive as spaces of investments, consumption and tourism. Adopting a case study approach, and drawing from qualitative and quantitative methods, this study investigates the impacts of one such megaproject, the proposed dig-out port in Durban. Transnet, a railway, port and logistics state-owned company, proposed that the dig- out port should be built at the old Durban International Airport site. Transnet argued that the dig-out port will be a solution to current challenges such as traffic congestion and low turnaround time at the existing port of Durban, while also addressing future demand and supply challenges. By using conceptual approaches such as speculative urbanism and neoliberal urban governance, this study argues that critical issues of participation, impacts such as displacements and environmental costs were ignored during the planning process for the dig-out port. Furthermore, civil society organisations and residents in adjacent zones were not consulted. Similar to many international and national case studies of megaprojects, the proponents of dig- out port overestimated benefits such as economic growth and employment, while undermining critical social and ecological impacts especially in an already environmentally stressed area of South Durban. This study argues that the planning process of the dig-out port reveal the actual existing neoliberalism at the local scale. However, such practices of neoliberalism are varied and are manifested through collaboration between state, municipal and private actors in planning and executing megaprojects. i DECLARATION I declare that this research project is my own original work. All citations, references and borrowed ideas have been duly acknowledged. It is being submitted in the College of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, in the School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal. None of the present work has been submitted previously for any degree or examination in any other University. The National Research Foundation funding through Innovation Scholarship is deeply appreciated; however, views and opinions expressed in this thesis remains that of the author. Signature Signature Aubrey Mpungose Prof. Brij Maharaj ………………. ……………….. Date Date ……………… ………………… ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank several people for their help and contribution during the writing of this thesis: I would like to thank my supervisor, Prof. Brij Maharaj, for his guidance and support from the beginning of this study. Thank you for believing in me and for all your encouragement. I thank the interviewees from the various organisations and communities who agreed to participate in this study My friends, IZINJA, for all the good times; Special thanks to Lihle, for all the love and support; Sphethu, for bringing a new chapter in my life. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... i DECLARATION...................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................. viii LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................... x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................ xi 1. CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 1 1.1 Problem Statement ...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Why Megaprojects?..................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Background to the Proposed Dig-Out Port ................................................................. 3 1.4 Aims and Objectives ................................................................................................... 4 1.4.2 Key Questions to be answered in the Study .............................................................. 5 1.5 Theoretical Perspectives in Urban Geography ............................................................ 5 1.6 Research Design .......................................................................................................... 6 1.7 Structure of the Dissertation ........................................................................................ 6 2 CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 8 2.2 Theoretical Perspectives on Neoliberalism ................................................................. 8 Neoliberalism as an Ideological-Hegemonic Project ........................................... 9 Neoliberalism as Governmentality .................................................................... 10 2.3 Neoliberalisation across the Globe ............................................................................ 11 2.4 Neoliberalism, Global Economic Restructuring and the City ................................... 14 From Government to Governance ..................................................................... 15 Speculative Urban Development: Neoliberalism and Megaprojects ................. 18 2.5 LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................... 20 iv Megaprojects as a Neoliberal Urban Strategy ................................................... 20 Megaprojects as Branding.................................................................................. 22 PPPs in Megaprojects ........................................................................................ 22 Criticism of Megaprojects.................................................................................. 23 2.6 South African Urban Development ........................................................................... 31 Apartheid Urban Geography .............................................................................. 32 From RDP to GEAR .......................................................................................... 33 Urban Development Strategy and Urban Development Framework ................. 34 Post-Apartheid Urban Development Challenges ............................................... 35 2.7 Megaprojects in South Africa ................................................................................... 36 2010 FIFA World Cup Stadiums ....................................................................... 37 The Gautrain ...................................................................................................... 38 The Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) ......................................... 39 2.8 Port-City Relationships ............................................................................................. 41 Port-City Development Models ......................................................................... 42 The Competitiveness of Durban Port ................................................................. 47 Port Impacts ....................................................................................................... 49 2.10 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 51 3 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY .................................................................... 53 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 53 3.2 Aims and Objectives ................................................................................................. 53 3.3 Study Area: South Durban Basin .............................................................................. 53 History of Apartheid Planning in South Durban Basin ..................................... 54 The Present South Durban Basin ....................................................................... 57 3.4 Background of the Dig-Out Port Project ................................................................... 58 3.5 Research Design: Case Study Approach ..................................................................