SECTOR PLAN OF THE INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN
1. INTRODUCTION
1.2 SPATIAL PLANNING CONTEXT
Spatial planning in the Dannhauser Local Municipality occurs within the national and provincial policy directives, and sets the agenda for area and site specific spatial planning. The national policy framework includes the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, various pieces of legislation that gives effect to the intentions of the Constitution in respect of spatial planning, and the associated policies that outlines the spatial transformation and development agenda. Provincial policy occurs in the form of the Provincial Spatial Economic Development Strategy and various sector based policies. The DLM SDF aligns with these policy directives and enables the municipality to contribute to the attainment of the spatial development targets and objectives outlined in these policies and deals directly with the spatial issues facing the municipality.
1.2 NATIONAL SPATIAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE
The national government has adopted various sector based policy frameworks. The majority of these have serious implications for spatial planning at a local level. In view of the rural nature and underdevelopment, that characterises the DLM, only the following are considered:
The New Growth Path.
Comprehensive Rural Development Strategy and the associated programme.
The Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Sustainable Human Settlements.
1.2.1 THE NEW GROWTH PATH
The New Growth Path identifies areas where employment creation is possible, both within conventional economic sectors and in
crosscutting activities. It thus identifies “fostering rural development and regional integration” as one of the five key job drivers. The other four are:
Substantial public investment in infrastructure.
Targeting more labour-absorbing activities across the main economic sectors - the agricultural and mining value chains, manufacturing and services.
Taking advantage of new opportunities in the knowledge and green economies.
Leveraging social capital in the social economy and the public services.
A critical element of the New Growth Path is to ensure that the drivers leverage and reinforce each other based on their inter- linkages.
It further notes that while urbanisation will continue, a significant share of the population will remain in rural areas, engaged in the rural economy. As such, enhancing rural employment in the DLM requires the preparation of a spatial perspective that sets out the opportunities available and the choices that have potential to form the basis for aligning government spending, infrastructure and housing investment and economic development initiatives.
1.2.2 COMPREHENSIVE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
The Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) seeks to maximize the use and management of natural resources to create vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities. This includes:
contributing to the redistribution of 30% of the country’s agricultural land;
improving food security of the rural poor; and
creation of business opportunities, de-congesting and rehabilitation of over-crowded former homeland areas.
In line with the CRDP, DLM SDF will, in the short to medium term, prioritise the revitalization of rural towns, stimulation of agricultural production with a view to contributing to food security, and aggressive implementation of land and agrarian reform policies. In the long-term, it will provide for the transformation of rural settlements into efficient, generative and sustainable settlements.
This includes the protection of natural resources and identification of areas with potential for investment and job creation.
1.2.3 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
The Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Sustainable Human Settlements (August 2004) promotes the achievement of a non-racial, integrated society through the development of sustainable human settlements and quality housing. This program seeks to use housing delivery as a means for the development of sustainable human settlements in support of spatial restructuring.
It moves beyond the provision of basic shelter towards achieving the broader vision of integrated, sustainable and economically generative human settlement systems at both local and regional scales. The following are fundamental tenets and underlying principles of this new approach:
progressive informal settlement eradication;
promoting densification and integration in urban centres;
enhancing spatial planning in both urban and rural contexts;
enhancing the quality and location of new housing projects;
supporting urban renewal programmes; and developing social and economic infrastructure.
Dannhauser Municipality forms part of a functional spatial and economic region. It performs particular functions and is subject to the regional, provincial and even national development trends and patterns. As such, it is critically important to locate Dannhauser SDF within its context and ensure alignment with the national and provincial development imperatives.
1.3 ALIGNMENT WITH NATIONAL SPATIAL IMPERATIVES
The National spatial development vision is articulated in the National Spatial Development Perspective (NSDP), and various supportive policies. It seeks to:
Promote economic development in strategic areas where government should direct its investment initiatives so as to achieve maximum and sustainable impact;
Create forms of spatial arrangements that are conducive to the achievement of the national objectives of democratic nation building and socio-economic inclusion; and
Taking government beyond the rhetoric of integration and coordination and start putting into place clear procedures and systems for achieving these ideals.
The NSDP, read together with the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP), clearly suggests that spatial planning in rural municipalities such as Dannhauser should be based on rigorous analysis of the space economy, focus on achieving sustainable development outcomes and be fully integrated into the local development programs. Dannhauser municipality is a rural municipality and therefore its spatial planning program should prioritise rural development and be undertaken within the context of the CRDP
1.4 ALIGNMENT WITH THE PROVINCIAL SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT IMPERATIVES
Source: PSEDS.
Multi-Sectoral Corridor Tourism
Agriculture Corridor Existing Corridor
THE BATTLEFIELDS ROUTE
Potential tourism opportunities exist for the Dannhauser Municipality due to its relative proximity to two battlefield sites, namely, Fort Mistake and the Talana Battlefield Museum which is located in Dundee. The closeness of Dannhauser to these prominent battlefield sites presents potential to generate positive spin- offs for the tourism sector in Dannhauser.
THE COAL MINING BELT
The mining sector remains a dominant sector in the Dannhauser economy, but its decline over the past decade has shown its competitive advantage is declining.
The Amajuba LED plan states that there may be some opportunities for small scale mining, either extracting coal, clays or reworking coal dumps for coal fines. Dannhauser municipality is surrounded by some
The Provincial Spatial and Economic Development Strategy (PSEDS) recognises the peripheral location of Dannhauser Municipality and identifies Dannhauser as falling relatively close to the Greytown-Msinga–Madadeni Corridor, that is, the secondary Corridor identified as SC 12 in the PSEDS. It acknowledges that the area has potential for tourism and agriculture as Dannhauser forms part of an agricultural district focussed around Newcastle and Dundee, which is well known for beef production. It is also within the Battlefields Tourism Region and the Northern KwaZulu Natal Coal mining belt. Dannhauser Town is also identified as a level 4 Node or a rural service centre with municipal wide threshold.
1.5 DISTRICT CONTEXT
Dannhauser municipality area as an economic sub-region has developed as a peripheral economy in the provincial context. This is due to its poor location in relation to major markets such as Durban, Pietermaritzburg, and Gauteng. However, at a regional level, the area enjoys relatively good strategic linkages with the following economic regions/sub-regions:
Amajuba District Municipality.
Greater Newcastle Economic Functional Region.
Battlefields Route Coal Mining Area
1.5.1 DISTRICT SPATIAL STRUCTURE
The Amajuba District Municipality (ADM) is located in the northwestern corner of KwaZulu-Natal. It is approximately 6 910 km2 in size with Emadlangeni occupying the largest area of 3 539 km2, Dannhauser some 1516km2 and Newcastle some 1 855 km2. Dannhauser accounts for only 21% of the district area and 20% of the district population (Global insight data: 2008).
Although the district is peripherally located when viewed at a national and provincial scale, it is well connected and enjoys a relatatively high level of accessibility within its spatial and economic functional region. N11, which is a national trade and movement route linking KwaZulu-Natal with Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces, runs through the western part of the district while regional connector distributor routes such as P483, R34 and others traverse the district in an east-west direction ensuring functional linkages with the surrounding towns such as Ladysmith, Dundee and Vryheid.
The district is predominantly rural and dominated by extensive commercial farmlands. Newcastle is the main urban centre and economic hub. Towns such as Dannhauser and Utrecht serve as secondary service centres with limited thresholds.
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A continuum of settlements ranging from urban and high density areas of Osizweni and Madadeni Townships through informal settlements in Johnston, Blaawbosch and Cavan (JBC) to rural settlements forming part of Ubuhlebomzinyathi occur mainly along the Buffalo River. A significant part of these settlements is located within Dannhauser Municipality.
1.5.2 GREATER NEWCASTLE ECONOMIC FUNCTIONAL REGION
Over the last few decades, Amajuba District Area experienced variable development trends. The closure of the majority of coalmines led to a decline in the regional economy, loss of employment and decay in towns such as Dannhauser, Utrecht, Hattingspruit and Dundee. Nevertheless, these towns remain important in the regional space economy, and serve as secondary towns to Newcastle. The liberalisation of the economy (integration into the world economy) in the early 1990s and increasing mechanisation of the agricultural sector worsened the situation as this led to more job losses and further decline in the regional economy. However, towns such as Newcastle, and to a lesser degree Dundee, have shown resilience and managed to retain some economic momentum. This could be ascribed to industrial development and ability to diversify their economic bases.
Unfortunately, Dannhauser town has not recovered and is currently in need of urban regeneration initiatives.
Secondly, there has been a net increase in population, particularly in areas such as Newcastle (Madadeni, JBC and Osizweni Complex), and rural settlements (Buffalo Flats, Clones, KwaMdakanes, etc) to the east of these townships.
1.5.3 SPATIAL ECONOMY
The decline of Dannhauser as a coal-mining town and the resultant decline in the quality of infrastructure and investment have compromised its position as a Rural Service Centre (RSC). This in
turn has presented a case for the urban regeneration of Dannhauser Town. The Dannhauser Municipality has however initiated a process leading up to the production of a Land Use Management Scheme which will be area/site specific and which will propose specific land use controls.
1.6 LINKAGES BETWEEN IDP, SDF AND LAND USE SCHEME
1.6.1 IDP, SDF AND LUMS CONNECTION
The recently promulgated KwaZulu-Natal Planning and Development Act, (Act No. 6 of 2008) requires all municipalities in the province to develop and implement a wall-to-wall land use management scheme (LUMS) within the period of five years.
Dannhauser is no exception to this. LUMS is also a requirement in terms of the Municipal Systems Act. However, credible LUMS cannot be achieved unless the SDF is sufficiently detailed and provides an indication of the manner in which land uses are currently organised in space, and provides guidance in terms of the future location of different land uses.
1.7 IMPLICATIONS FOR DANNHAUSER SDF
The strategic focus of these policies and development intents is motivated by a number of concerns, the precise mix of which is determined by particular social, economic and political contexts of different times. In the context of Dannhauser Municipality, these concerns include the following:
Investment promotion: Strategic planning is often seen as a prerequisite for attracting certain types of investment to targeted areas. These strategies are likely to be linked to local economic development initiatives;
Aesthetic concerns: The control of land development enables government to prescribe certain design parameters for buildings and areas/space;
Environmental concerns: Uncontrolled development of land can have adverse effects on natural habitats, cultural landscapes, air and water quality;
Health and safety concerns: Uncontrolled development can lead to overcrowding and unsafe building construction. Certain land uses can also be detrimental to the health and safety of neighbours;
Efficiency of infrastructure provision and traffic management:
Where infrastructure is provided, generally at high financial cost, without taking into account likely and relevant land-use and settlement patterns.
These policies introduce a set of principles that are intended to influence the substantive outcomes of planning decisions, whether they relate to spatial development frameworks or decisions on land use change or development applications.
Although Dannhauser Municipality is responsible for spatial planning within its area of jurisdiction, the desired or ideal spatial and economic system can only be achieved if the municipality works in tandem with the relevant organs of state and civil society.
This emphasizes the importance of public participation and cooperative governance. To this end, spatial planning in Dannhauser addresses the local interests and is managed in accordance with the universal development principles. It seeks to:
Generate a wide range of economic development opportunities and necessary support systems;
Provide a choice of living environments along a continuum from conditions of intense public environments to conditions of great privacy; and
Promote equitable access to opportunities. The need to address environmental issues as part of spatial planning has become critical.
CURRENT SITUATION ANALYSIS
1.8 DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
Although the SDF has a clear spatial focus, it is critically important to locate it within the broader development profile of the municipality. Essentially, this refers to a broad overview of the demographic, social and economic trends, opportunities and challenges.
1.8.1 POPULATION SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION
The total population of Dannhauser Municipality could be estimated to be 104065 people (Stats SA: Community Survey 2007) and is spread unevenly among the eleven wards. Wards 1, 7, 8, 9 are the most populated wards with 14271, 16579, 12361 and 12131 people respectively while wards 3 and 5 have the least population figures.
The Population growth rate is estimate at 2.5% per annum (Amajuba CIP, 2009).
Relatively high male absenteeism could be attributed to factors such as the declining of the mining industry and increasing mechanisation in the agricultural sector, which has led to the general decline of employment opportunities in the region.
It is important to note that Amajuba has a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS like many of the district municipalities in the province.
This too may have an impact on the districts demographic profile.
However, programmes to address the plight associated with this
EXPANSIVE RURAL SETTLEMENTS LAND
DANNHAUSER AND
HATTINGSPRUIT – MAIN URBAN CENTRES IN DANNHAUSER N11 RUNS THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL AREA IN A NORTH SOUTH DIRECTION
COMMERCIAL FARMLANDS NTSHINGWAYO DAM AND NATURE CONSERVATION MANAGED BY NCS
NEWCASTLE TOWN- DISTRICT ECONOMICHUB AND MAIN ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE
pandemic have been duly prepared by the district. The net increase of child headed households is also a cause for concern.
1.8.2 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
Since 2001, the increased coverage of the social security grant network has had a significant impact on households in Dannhauser. This situation could be attributed to a number of factors including a general lack of employment opportunities and decline in the mining sector. Potential growth in the tourism and coal mining activities has the potential to create employment opportunities.
1.8.2.1 INCOME
Income levels are low for most households in Dannhauser. Census 2001 reported that 82% of the population in Dannhauser have no monthly income, with a further 17% having monthly income of less than R1,600 per month though these income statistics is often questioned. In 2005, more than 80%
of households in Dannhauser receive less than R1,500 per month, with only one in seven households having no monthly income at all. A further 17% of households in Dannhauser have income between R1,500 and R5,000 per month, with less than 2% of the households earning more than R5,000 per month (Dannhauser LED Strategy: 2008).
1.8.2.2 EMPLOYMENT
Employment has dropped from nearly 33% from those willing to work in 2001 to just more than 21% of those willing to work in 2005.
The unemployment rate in Dannhauser has thus increased from just over 67% in 2001 (Census 2001) to nearly 80% in 2005 (Amajuba Survey 2005).
1.8.2.3 EDUCATION
The education levels amongst the adult population in Dannhauser have increased between 2001 and 2005. The percentage of the population with no schooling has decreased from just below 23% in
2001 to 16.5% in 2005. There was a relative increase in the percentage of the population with primary and secondary education, while those with tertiary education have decreased slightly as a percentage of the population in Dannhauser Municipality (Amajuba Baseline Data Study: 2005).
1.8.2.4 EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR
Total employment in Dannhauser decreased from more than 6,800 to just below 6,000, a drop of 13.5% in 9 years. The biggest drop occurred in the mining sector, where nearly 70% of jobs in the sector were lost. Despite the growth in the size of the transport and communication sector, employment in this sector in Dannhauser has decreased by nearly 40% between 1995 and 2004.
In contrast to this, employment in finance and business services grew at an average rate of 6.5% between 1995 and 2004, while employment in the agricultural sector increased by about 50%
between 1995 and 2004, to just over 1,100 (Dannhauser LED Strategy :2008, Quantec Research 2006).
1.9 ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES OVERVIEW
The Dannhauser area, particularly the town and the surrounding rural settlements, are characterised by service backlogs in respect to water, sanitation and electricity. Major strides have been made in addressing these issues with achievement on number of households who are without proper access to these services.
Details in this regard are provided in the IDP.
1.9.1 WASTE REMOVAL
The ADM has recently reviewed its Integrated Waste Management Plan, which reviews the solid waste disposal in all three LM’s in the ADM. In terms of statistics, the Community Survey (2007), the municipality removes refuse from 11.9% of households in the municipality, which is an improvement on the 10.4% in 2001. 13.4%
of households in 2007 indicated that they had no access to refuse removal, which was a decline from the 9.0% in 2001. However, this is concentrated in Dannhauser Town only and excludes the rural settlements and commercial farmlands.
At present, the municipality only has one landfill site according to the Waste Management Plan compiled by the District Municipality, which is not working efficiently. This landfill site is still under examination due to compliance purposes (Amajuba District EMP:
2010).
1.9.2 WATER
According to the Amajuba Internal Backlog Monitoring Database 2010, Dannhauser Municipality is still faced with a major backlog in terms of water provision. 37% of Households have below basic level of service, 55% have a basic level of service and only 8% have an above basic level of service. The following outcomes have been achieved over the last few years (Amajuba District IDP 2010/11):
Backlog has been reduced from 73.5% in the 2005 to a 37% as a result of several reticulation projects on the Buffalo Flats;
Households enjoying basic levels of services have increased from 19% in the 2005, 47% in last year’s to 55%;
Households above the basic levels of service have improved marginally over the past year from 7.5% to 8%.
The ADM estimates that approximately R99,000,000.00 is required to address the water backlogs in the Buffalo Flats alone.
1.9.3 ELECTRICITY
The Community Survey (2007) indicates that in terms of households using electricity for lighting, 81.6% of households in 2007 made use of electricity, which is an improvement on the 43.5%
in 2001. The ADM’s Electrical Supply Development Plan (ESDP) estimated some 2 823 households were below the basic level of service.