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Jan
30
2024
By The African Mirror
Why are floods in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal so devastating? Urban planning expert explains

Why are floods in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal so devastating? Urban planning expert explains

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS
THE devastation caused by the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa demonstrates again that the country is not moving fast enough to adopt appropriate urban planning. It should integrate risk assessment and management in the design and development of cities. This is becoming more urgent as the frequency of floods increases. HOPE MAGIDIMISHA-CHIPUNGU, Full Professor, University of KwaZulu-Natal Most South African cities were built a long time ago before climate change was predicted. KwaZulu-Natal experienced flooding in July 2016, May 2017, October 2017, March 2019, April 2019, November 2019, November 2020, April 2023, June 2023, and now in January 2024.…
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May
05
2022
By The African Mirror
New forms of urban planning are emerging in Africa

New forms of urban planning are emerging in Africa

AFRICITIES
RAPID urban growth and an increasing number of climate change related disasters, such as the recent floods in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, have put the importance of sound urban planning in Africa in the spotlight. Urban plans are seen as the key to achieving inclusive, safe and sustainable cities. But urban scholars have argued for decades that for plans to be effective we need to move away from the traditional way of doing things. This requires dropping a top down approach – master planning – and opting instead for strategic forms of planning that are targeted, flexible and participatory. Authors…
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Apr
20
2021
By The African Mirror
There’s a disconnect between research and urban planning in Africa: how to fix it

There’s a disconnect between research and urban planning in Africa: how to fix it

AFRICITIES
THE African continent is fast on its way to becoming one of the world’s largest urban hubs. This has spawned a growing interest in African urbanisation by both researchers and policymakers. But a great deal of the knowledge – and policy that stems from it – doesn’t adequately respond to the challenges faced by those who govern and are governed on the ground. SYLVIA CROESE, Senior research fellow, University of the Witwatersrand NTOMBINI MARRENGANE, Senior Manager, Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Cape Town We address this problem in our new book Reframing the Urban Challenge in…
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