iii EDITORIAL
INTRODUCTION
The discourse on inclusion and exclusion in contemporary cities goes beyond the mere physical manifestation of the various dimensions of inclusivity and exclusivity. While it is acknowledged that this discourse has been raging for years in the history of cities, its conceptual and physical manifestation has also been changing in line with societal dynamics.
It is an undeniable fact that forces at work in contemporary cities are driven by power, race and class (among other factors) which in turn provide a platform for calculated and coordinated practices that contribute towards inclusion and exclusion. There is therefore need to consistently and progressively interrogate this phenomenon in order to create a dialogue that is responsive to contemporary cities in the 21st century. While conceptual, theoretical and epistemological frameworks might not provide instant solutions to challenges under consideration, their articulation of contemporary issues provide deeper insight and understanding which contributes towards achieving sustainable solutions. Would it be fair to interrogate the manifestation of inclusionary and exclusionary practices in contemporary cities without taking a nip from the past? The reality of the matter is that there are underlying perculiarities which provide continuous meanings – thereby offering comparative gazes for diagnosis, understanding, elaboration and which allow for subverting inclusionary tendencies, attitudes and practices. Therefore, those historical “moments” of action can be instrumentalised into plans of action for the new agenda in the creation of inclusive cities. However, contemporary cities are made up of a multiplicity of activities – therefore, it is this diversity which equally impact on inclusivity and exclusivity. It is the search for true answers that this issue articulate inclusion and exclusion issues around the following areas:
• Environmental Justice and Equity
• Social Exclusion and Inclusion
• Inclusion and Safety
• Inclusion and Resilience
• Social Inclusion and Built Environment
• Policies that addres the needs of the vulnerable within cities.
• Survival strategies among vulnerable group
• Innovative remedial measures that can be employed to counter exclusion
Published 25th October 2021
Published by the University of KwaZulu-Natal https://journals.ukzn.ac.za/index.php/JICBE
© Creative Commons With Attribution (CC-BY)
Journal of Inclusive cities and Built environment. Vol. 1 Issue 2
EDITORIAL
By Magidimisha-Chipungu H. and Chipungu L.
How to cite: Hope Magidimisha-Chipungu and Lovemore Chipungu. 2021. Editorial. JJournal of Inclusive cities and Built environment.
Vol. 1 Issue 2, Pg iii-vi.
https://doi.org/doi/10.54030/2788-564X/2021/v1i2a1 | e-ISSN 2788-564X | ISSN 2788-5631
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Journal of Inclusive cities and Built environment. Vol. 1 No.2, Editorial, Pg iii-vi.
This current issue received several submissions from private sectors, practitioners, and academia. The papers addressed various dimensions of built environment and City related research which are at the core of Urban development and Urban inclusivity as aligned to the call of the Journal of inclusivity and built environment (JICBE).
Mandaza et al., investigated the manifestation of street safety and security as spatial (in)justice in selected small rural towns of Vhembe District, South Africa. This study examined pedestrians’ safety and security elements on street spaces in three selected Small Rural Towns (SRTs) in South Africa and assessed the users’ physical perceptions of street safety and security in SRTs and their implications on spatial (in)justice. The study adopted a mixed-method approach and a street safety spatial (in)justice case study survey design. Data were collected through key informant interviews, a questionnaire survey, and observations. The distribution of safety and security elements across the studied 43 street spaces reflect the existence of justices and injustices concurrently. The study recommends that the design and management of streets be informed by users’ vision of street safety and security and innovative project financing strategies by local municipalities to ensure spatial justice on street spaces.
Nnaggenda-Musana examined domestic Space as a Survival Strategy for Low-Income Women. The study was a qualitative exploratory and descriptive case study strategy, it sought to understand a real-life problem at the Masese Women’s Self-Help Housing Project. Precedent studies of the project and a literature review were carried out to analyse the various housing transformations to address the problem of inadequate government provided housing for low-income households. The findings of this research are intended to inform house design, planning and policy initiatives that studying housing transformations in low-income areas can guide the advancement of housing that is suitable for low-income households, especially women who utilise domestic space more.
Mohammed et al., examined the comparative analysis of environmental justice among urban neighbourhoods. This study investigated the level of environmental justice or otherwise in the provision of facilities in Minna. Mix-Method research design was adopted to obtain both qualitative and quantitative data through physical surveys of facilities of salient features while a checklist was used to guide the research using the Open Data Kit (ODK) tool. With purposive sampling technique, descriptive statistics, spatial data analysis and the Gini coefficient; it was shown that there is lack of justice in the provision of environmental facilities across space. It is worrisome to note that access roads recorded a high level of inequality (0.336 GC) – particularly as Bosso town with 40% of the residents has 20% of access roads, while, Tudun Wada South is having 22% of the road for just 7% of the population. The study, therefore, recommended equity and justice in the provision of facilities to help institute more sustainable development and management in Minna and similar cities.
Abd ‘Razack et al., investigated the comparative peculiarities of Ecological Footprint of Urban and Rural households in Minna, Nigeria. The research evaluated the challenges of Unsustainability of Nigeria because of resources consumption which outweighs bio-capacity. This research estimated the Ecological Footprints of the average individual in a household in the urban and rural areas. It identifies the types of resource consumption; the impact of consumption on the EF and compares the EF of both about the level of sustainability. Data were collected employing primary and secondary sources for the study. A total of 400 households was selected for the study. Questionnaire administration was employed to collect the data and random sampling was employed. The data were analysed through explanatory and inferential statistics. The result of the study shows that the EF of Minna and Maikunkele were 1.10 and 0.892 gha. Households require an average of 0.91 and 0.74 planets to sustain their living standard and generate 6.2 and 4.3 tonnes of CO2 annually. 9 and 6 factors influence EF. It is recommended that the lifestyle of the household in the Minna region must be modified to reduce pressure on environmental resources and the emission of GHG for sustainable development.
v EDITORIAL
Omirin & Falola assessed the Socio-Environmental Effects of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Depot, Apata, Ibadan on the Adjoining Neighbourhoods. This work examined the socio-environmental effects of the Nigerian National Petroleum Depot, Apata, Ibadan on its immediate neighbourhood. A case study approach utilising primary and secondary data collection was adopted. Two hundred and five residential buildings and respondents were proportionally selected for sampling from four neighbourhoods within 500 metres radius of the facility. An environmental audit including ground water samples were randomly collected for testing and analysis from Adebisi stream and residential hand-dug wells. Findings revealed local access road incapacitation emanating from indiscriminate parking of fuel tankers and spiralling into constant traffic congestion on major roads. Desludging of fuel storage tanks (79.5%) resulting into regular effluent discharge into the Adebisi stream and fume emission (62.6%), were attested to by residents. Water quality analysis revealed a high concentration of lead (pb.0.06mg/l) above the maximum permissible limit of (0.01mg/l) for potable water. Other detected metals, Cadmium (0.003mg/l), Copper (0.006mg/l) and Zinc (3.0 mg/l) were all within the appropriate recommended limits. The study recommended a periodic environmental audit and regular dialogue with stakeholders of the host communities for socio-environmental sustainability.
Olanrewaju et al., assessing the inclusiveness of housing conditions in Ogbomosho Township, Nigeria. It appraised the deficit in housing stock in Nigeria major cities and its associated exclusion with the focus on housing condition in Ogbomoso Township. The research assessed the socioeconomic characteristics of residents, characteristics and condition of housing units, and impact of the identified condition on residents using a multistage sampling approach to sample 150 buildings for questionnaire administration to an adult resident in each of the sampled building. Data obtained were summarized using tables and percentages while analysis of variance was used to evaluate variation in the condition of housing units across political wards in the study area. The study discovered that about 44.7%
of the residents have been living in their residences for less than 5 years, thus suggesting frequent change of residences by residents to adjust and readjust to various exclusion tendencies. Reasons for this include the perceived substandard nature of the housing units. It, therefore, among others, recommends that inclusive development should be encouraged in the study area through enlightenment programmes, subsidization of building materials and policy interventions.
Muringa investigated the challenges and survival strategies of vulnerable groups under COVID-19 induced lockdown focusing on Durban Waste Pickers. Despite the notion that waste pickers are amongst the economically excluded groups in urban South Africa, little is known about their lockdown experience. This study explores the survival strategies of waste pickers in Durban during the COVID-19 induced level 5 lockdown. It employs a case study to illuminate the challenges and various survival strategies adopted by the waste pickers in response to harsh living conditions imposed by the lockdown measures. Two empirical questions are asked in this study- what are the challenges faced by the waste pickers? and what were the surviving strategies employed by waste pickers? Data for this study were collected using semi-structured interviews with pickers. Using a convenience sampling technique, waste pickers (n=15) from the South Beach area were interviewed. The study revealed that the pickers lost income and their assets. As a means of survival, the pickers resorted to drugs, crime, and moved to shelters.
Nzimande et al, opines the integration of the demographic dividend into government plans. The Population reference Bureau policy brief, (Gribble and Bremmer, 2012:1) described the demographic dividend as “…the accelerated economic growth that may result from a decline in a country’s mortality and fertility and the subsequent change in the age structure of the population. With fewer births each year, a country’s young dependent population grows smaller in relation to the working-age population. With fewer people to support, a country has a window of opportunity for rapid economic growth if the right social and economic policies developed and investments made”. Several South Africa based studies have explored age structure and the prospects of a demographic dividend. These studies range from those that explore timing of the dividend to those that investigate readiness to harness the dividend. Three
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Journal of Inclusive cities and Built environment. Vol. 1 No.2, Editorial, Pg iii-vi.
aspects of the demographic dividend are investigated by this research. Firstly, the paper will explore the age structure of KwaZulu-Natal population to ascertain the timing of the age-structure (youth bulge) that is a pre-requisite for the dividend. Secondly, demographic, health and education characteristics that are knows to affect the achievement of the dividend will be examined. Lastly, the extent of integration of the demographic dividend into Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) in the province will be explored.
Editor in Chief
Prof. Hangwelani Hope Magidimisha-Chipungu Email: [email protected]
Managing Editor
Prof. Lovemore Chipungu Email: [email protected]
