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CITY OF MBOMBELA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY A lot of people together in a small space * *Swati translation for Mbombela Report prepared by Maléne Campbell August 2017
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CITY OF MBOMBELA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY A lot …CITY OF MBOMBELA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY A lot of people together in a small space* *Swati translation for Mbombela Report prepared by Maléne

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Page 1: CITY OF MBOMBELA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY A lot …CITY OF MBOMBELA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY A lot of people together in a small space* *Swati translation for Mbombela Report prepared by Maléne

CITY OF MBOMBELA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY A lot of people together in a small space*

*Swati translation for Mbombela

Report prepared by

Maléne Campbell

August 2017

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Mbombela | Page ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................... III

LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................IV

LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................ V

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1

2. DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC OVERVIEW .......................................................................... 6

3. MAIN SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION ISSUES .......................................................................... 11

3.1 Spatial integration .................................................................................................................. 11

3.2 Inclusion and access ............................................................................................................. 11

3.3 Growth ................................................................................................................................... 12

3.4 Governance ........................................................................................................................... 12

4. ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER PLANS ....................................................................................... 14

5. AN OVERVIEW OF THE SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK .............................................. 16

5.1 Introducing a municipal open space system.......................................................................... 18

5.2 The protection of prime and unique agricultural land ............................................................ 18

5.3 Identification of focus areas for land reform .......................................................................... 19

5.4 The development of rural-based tourism ............................................................................... 19

5.5 The development of an integrated transport system ............................................................. 20

5.6 To promote compact and integrated development ................................................................ 20

5.7 Addressing development in economic opportunity zones ..................................................... 21

6. ASSESSMENT OF THE SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK ............................................... 22

6.1 Organisational structure......................................................................................................... 22

6.2 The quality of the planning process ....................................................................................... 23

6.3 The quality of the plan ........................................................................................................... 24

6.4 Degree of implementation...................................................................................................... 24

6.5 Spatial challenges .................................................................................................................. 25

7. SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION IMPLEMENTATION .................................................................... 25

8. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................. 26

REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 27

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Location of Mbombela in Southern Africa ............................................................................. 1

Figure 2: Location of Mbombela in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality of the Mpumalanga Province . 2

Figure 3: City of Mbombela Local Municipality ..................................................................................... 3

Figure 4: Diagram of the Maputo Development Corridor ..................................................................... 4

Figure 5: Traditional authorities in the Mbombela Local Municipality .................................................. 5

Figure 6: Urban growth of the Mbombela Local Municipality ............................................................... 8

Figure 7: The public participation process of the 2012 Spatial Development Framework review ..... 16

Figure 8: Spatial Development Framework for Mbombela Local Municipality (2007) ........................ 17

Figure 9: Strategy for a municipal open space system ...................................................................... 18

Figure 10: Former residential area rezoned to accommodate offices .................................................. 21

Figure 11: 2011−2030 Spatial Development Framework for Mombela Local Municipality .................. 22

Figure 12: Organogram of the City Planning and Development Department of Mbombela Local

Municipality .......................................................................................................................... 23

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Designations of the participants in the qualitative study ....................................................... 6

Table 2: Mbombela population ............................................................................................................ 6

Table 3: Population of Kabokweni, Kanyamazane and Matsulu ......................................................... 7

Table 4: Urban growth 1990−2014 ..................................................................................................... 7

Table 5: Mbombela economy .............................................................................................................. 9

Table 6: Mbombela municipal expenditure ......................................................................................... 9

Table 7: Mbombela infrastructure ..................................................................................................... 10

Table 8: Mbombela – Gross value added ......................................................................................... 10

Table 9: Percentage of land under control of the traditional authorities in the Mbombela Local

Municipality .......................................................................................................................... 13

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LIST OF ACRONYMS

CBD Central Business District

CoGTA Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

GVA Gross Value Added

IDP Integrated Development Plan

MDC Maputo Development Corridor

MLM Mbombela Local Municipality

MOSS Municipal Open Space System

PGDS Provincial Growth and Development Strategy

SDF Spatial Development Framework

SPLUMA Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act

Stats SA Statistics South Africa

TLC Transitional Local Council

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1. INTRODUCTION

Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM) is situated in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality of

the Mpumalanga Province (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The Mbombela Local Municipality

was formed in 2000 when the Hazyview Nelspruit and White River Local Councils

amalgamated (MLM, 2011). The local municipality is today referred to as City of

Mbombela Local Municipality (Figure 3) which consists of the former MLM and Umjindi

Local Municipality (City of Mbombela Local Municipality, 2017−2022).

Source: MLM (2012)

Figure 1: Location of Mbombela in Southern Africa

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Source: MLM (2012)

Figure 2: Location of Mbombela in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality of the Mpumalanga Province

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Source: City of Mbombela Local Municipality (2017−2022)

Figure 3: City of Mbombela Local Municipality

Gauteng is located 320 km along the Maputo corridor1 on the N4 road (Figure 4), inland

from MLM, with the Mozambican border post at Komatipoort about 120 km to the east,

and the Kruger National Park about 55 km in a north-easterly direction. Nine domestic

flights from Johannesburg, two flights from Durban and one from Cape Town land daily

at the Kruger Mphumalanga International Airport (Interviewee 1), while other flights fly

directly to the Skukuza Airport, adjacent to the Kruger National Park.

1In mid-2008, Trans African Concessions (Pty) Ltd constructed the Maputo Development Corridor (MDC) along the 630 km N4 toll road stretching from Pretoria in the Gauteng Province in South Africa, through the Mpumalanga Province to Maputo in Mozambique (Campbell, Maritz and Hauptfleisch, 2009; Nathan Associates, 2007). The southern Lowveld, which lies between

the southern boundary of the Kruger National Park and the Swaziland border, is part of the area also termed the MaputoNelspruit corridor.

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a: Pretoria f: Machadodorp k: Phalaborwa b: Johannesburg g: Mbombela l: Polokwane c: Bronkhorstspruit h: Malalane m: Rustenburg d: Emalahleni i: Komatipoort n: Vaal Triangle e: Middelburg j: Maputo o: Mbabane

Axis:

Border:

Source: Campbell and Hauptfleisch (2012)

Figure 4: Diagram of the Maputo Development Corridor

Urban areas in MLM include Mbombela, formerly known as Nelspruit2, White River,

and Hazyview, as well as former homeland towns such as Kabokweni, Kanyamazane

and Matsulu. Mbombela, the capital of the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, is in

the Lowveld3. This status of Mbombela as capital city of the Ehlanzeni District

Municipality gives Mbombela a competitive advantage in terms of growth and

development (MLM, 2016/2017). Mbombela is also home to the Lowveld National

Botanical Garden and hosts the Citrus and Subtropical Fruit Research Institute (South

Africa) (MLM, 2016/2017).

In the 1400s, an Nguni migration arrived from the north with herds of cattle, and built

stone-walled houses for their settlements in the area (Mpumalanga, 2017). Nguni

people comprises the Swazi and Ndebele nations of Mpumalanga. The Swazi nation

of today originated at the time of King Ngwane and therefore this area, demarcated by

tribal boundaries, was called KaNgwane (Mpumalanga, 2017). In 1873, the discovery

of gold about 80 km north of Nelspruit (currently Mbombela), brought many

prospectors to the area which was ruled by the Zuid Afrikaansche Republic – also

referred to as the Transvaal Republic (South African History Online [SAHO], 2013).

The goldfields in the land-locked Transvaal required strategic access to the Delagoa

Bay port in the neighbouring Mozambique. The Delagoa Bay railway line was built to

connect the goldfields with the port of Delagoa Bay, later renamed Lourenço Marques

2Nelspruit was named after the Nel brothers who owned land with a creek in the area. Creek is translated as spruit in Afrikaans. 3Glasson (1978) believed that the first step in outlining the concept of a region is to determine if the region, in this case the

Lowveld, is a natural phenomenon. In this regard, the objective view sees a region as a real entity, an organism that can be identified and mapped. Glasson (1978) also distinguished between three types of regions, namely formal, functional and planning regions. The Lowveld can be viewed as a functional region, which is a geographical area which displays a certain functional coherence and an interdependence of parts.

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and currently Maputo (SAHO, 2013). It was decided to run this railway line through the

area that eventually became known as Nelspruit, a village which would be become

Mbombela City a century later (Mpumalanga, 2017).

MLM is divided into five zones: three in Mbombela, one in Hazyview and one Nsikazi.

It has the following nine traditional authorities4 (Figure 5) which fall under Nsikazi:

• Gutshwa Traditional Authority.

• Lomshiyo Traditional Authority.

• Masoyi Traditional Authority.

• Mbuyane Traditional Authority.

• Mdluli Traditional Authority.

• Mpakeni Traditional Authority.

• Msogwaba Traditional Authority.

• Nkambeni Traditional Authority.

• Kgarudi Traditional Authority (MLM, 2012).

Source: Usembe (2016)

Figure 5: Traditional authorities in the Mbombela Local Municipality

4This is the former KaNgwane homeland and consists of about fifty towns such as Msogwane, Kabokweni, Swalala and Shabalala (Interviewee 2).

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In-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted from 8 to 11 June 2017 in the City of

Mbombela. The interviewees with their designations are listed in Table 1:

TABLE 1: DESIGNATIONS OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE QUALITATIVE STUDY

1. Mpumalanga tour operator

2. Professional planner: Partner A Consulting in Mbombela

3. General manager, MLM

4. Professional planner: Partner B Consulting in Mbombela

5. Sales specialist at the division of Business: Property Finance at a commercial bank in Mbombela

6. Chair, Mbombela Economic Development Partnership5

7. Official, National Department of Social Development in Mbombela

8. Senior manager A, MLM

9. Senior manager B, MLM

10. Manager of a lodge in Mbombela

11. Manager in the tourism industry

12. Manager in the tourism industry

Source: Author (2017)

2. DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

Table 2 provides a detailed overview of the population of MLM which includes the three

local municipalities of Nelspruit, White River and Hazyview that have amalgamated in

2000.

TABLE 2: MBOMBELA POPULATION

Indicator 1996 2001 2011 2016

Total number of people 426 090 476 903 588 794 622 158

Total number of people: urban N/A N/A 104 346 82 009

Total number of people: rural N/A N/A 484 448 540 149

Rural: traditional N/A N/A 455 295 520 887

Rural: commercial farms N/A N/A 29 153 19 262

Total number of households 91 584 112 321 161 773 181 794

Average annual growth rate of population: since previous period

N/A 2,3 2,1 1,1

Average annual growth rate of households: since previous period

N/A 4,2 3,7 2,4

Source: Stats SA (1996−2011; 2016)

Evidence from Table 2 shows that the merger contributed to a 2,3% population growth

in the MLM in 2001. The respective figures for 2011 and 2016 show a slightly lower

growth rate in 2011 and a significantly lower growth rate in 2016. The number of people

in the urban areas decreased between 2011 and 2016, while the number of people in

the rural areas increased during this same period. A possible explanation can be

5Section 21 entity which represents all business chambers within the MLM area.

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contributed to the lower cost of living in the rural areas as residents in the regions under

traditional authority do not pay for municipal services or land tax.

Kabokweni, Kanyamazane and Matsulu were the townships of the former Nelspruit

(Interviewee 3). Table 3 provides an overview of the population growth and decline in

these former townships. Continued urban sprawl in the eastern part of the Nsikazi area

where these areas under traditional authorities are situated, poses spatial challenges

associated with sprawl such as long daily commutes. The population growth in these

areas is mainly due to illegal immigration (MLM, 2012).

TABLE 3: POPULATION OF KABOKWENI, KANYAMAZANE AND MATSULU

Former townships Census year

1996 2001 2011 1996 2001 2011

Matsulu 12 623 11 210 11 235 −2,3 0,0 −0,8

Kabokweni 11 545 11 491 12 992 −0,1 1,2 0,8

Kabokweni IA 7 296 11 660 17 981 9,8 4,4 6,2

Kanyamazane 15 601 12 408 14 557 −4,5 1,6 −0,5

Source: MLM (2012)

Figure 6 shows that most of the urban growth happened in the areas under traditional

authorities, while Table 4 shows the substantial increase in land cover from 1990 to

2014, possibly due to the inclusion of the former KaNgwane homeland.

TABLE 4: URBAN GROWTH 1990−2014

Municipality 1990 2014 Growth

Mbombela 24 081 28 054 3 973

Source: MapAble Urban Land Cover Data (2017)

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Source: MapAble (2017)

Figure 6: Urban growth of the Mbombela Local Municipality

Table 5 provides an overview of the economy of MLM. The Lowveld has a diverse

economy (Interviewee 5), with lower order services found in White River, while

Mbombela serves as a higher order regional node. Many children from Mozambique

and Swaziland attend private boarding schools in White River, where affluent residents

have homes in country estates (Interviewee 5). The residents in the areas under

traditional authorities live mostly on government grants and, because of their vast

numbers, have great buying power (Interviewee 5). There is also a large informal

economy in the area under traditional authority (Interviewee 2).

The employment rate increased by 5,1% between 2001 and 2011, while the

unemployment rate decreased by 9,6% from 2001 to 2011. The average household

income increased, while the dependency ratio decreased by 11,5 from 2001 to 2011

but increased again in 2016 (Table 5).

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TABLE 5: MBOMBELA ECONOMY

Indicator 1996 2001 2011 2016

Total population 426 090 476 903 588 794 622 158

Total number of people employed 100 186 108 652 164 000 N/A

Employed people as a percentage of total population

23,5 22,8 27,9 N/A

Unemployment rate N/A 37,7 28,1 N/A.

Youth unemployment rate N/A 46,9 37,6 N/A

Average household income N/A 38 173 93 739 N/A

Annual growth in household income (2001−2011)

N/A N/A 9,4 N/A

Average annual Consumer Price Index (2001−2011)

N/A N/A 5,9 N/A

Dependency ratio N/A 62,6 51,1 62,2

Source: Stats SA (1996−2011; 2016)

Five years ago, research was conducted by Campbell and Hauptfleisch (2012) to

determine whether the Maputo Development Corridor (MDC) acts as a channel

dispersing benefits between agglomerations of economic and industrial activities. The

respondents in this study agreed that economic growth, business improvement, wealth

creation, job creation and infrastructure development were all spin-offs of the MDC.

The number of individuals in the different income levels increased substantially

between 2007 and 2011, especially in the lower income levels, while the number of

individuals with no income also increased slightly by 0.63% (Stats SA, 2007, 2012).

Table 6 provides an overview of municipal expenditures. The total municipal

expenditure more than doubled from 2006/2007 until 2015/2016.

TABLE 6: MBOMBELA MUNICIPAL EXPENDITURE

Municipality 2006/2007 2015/2016

Total municipal expenditure 835 994 479 2 114 873 927

Total capital expenditure 129 454 466 0

Capital budget as percentage of total budget 15,5 0

Municipal expenditure on maintenance 57 684 962 183 926 438

Municipal expenditure on maintenance as a percentage of total expenditure

6,9 8,7

Municipal expenditure on salaries 176 301 175 520 920 770

Municipal expenditure on salaries as a percentage of total expenditure

21,1 24,6

Total municipal income 855 388 834 2 158 741 341

Total income from property rates 128 097 290 335 673 587

Municipal income from property tax as a percentage of total municipal income (self-generated income)

15,0 15,5

Source: RSA, Department: National Treasury (2015−2016)

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Evidence from Table 7 shows that the number of households almost doubled from

1996 to 2016. Although the number of households with indoor water access, flush

toilets and electricity increased from 1996 to 2016, the respective percentages did not

increase because of the substantial growth in the number of households. The number

of households in informal structures also nearly doubled from 1996 to 2016. (See also

5.7 for the investment in infrastructure as proposed in the 2011−2030 SDF).

TABLE 7: MBOMBELA INFRASTRUCTURE

Indicator 1996 2001 2011 2016

Total number of households 91 584 112 321 161 773 181 794

Number of households with indoor water access 36 834 23 283 60 097 43 427

Percentage of households with indoor water access

40,2 20,7 37,1 23,9

Number of households with flush toilet access 24 450 30 315 54 649 58 923

Percentage of households with flush toilet access 26,7 27,0 33,8 32,4

Number of households with electricity access 44 910 81 231 145 922 174 751

Percentage of households with electricity access 49,0 72,3 90,2 96,1

Number of households living in informal structures 7 182 10 003 7 816 14 289

Source: Stats SA (1996−2011; 2016)

Table 8 provides a Gross Value Added (GVA) overview for Mbombela.

TABLE 8: MBOMBELA – GROSS VALUE ADDED

Indicator 1996 2001 2011 2015 1996− 2001

2001− 2011

2011− 2015

1996− 2015

2001− 2015

Total 18 123 20 599 27 936 30 052 2,6 3,1 1,8 2,7 2,7

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

668 669 854 900 0.0 2,5 1,3 1,6 2,1

Mining and quarrying

256 321 465 734 4,6 3,8 12,1 5,7 6,1

Manufacturing 3 411 3 851 3 619 3 525 2,5 −0,6 −0,7 0,2 −0,6

Electricity, gas and water

656 610 798 812 −1,4 2,7 0,4 1,1 2,1

Construction 583 564 1 108 1 199 −0,7 7,0 2,0 3,9 5,5

Wholesale and retail trading, catering and accommodation

3 736 4 592 6 177 6 612 4,2 3,0 1,7 3,1 2,6

Transport, storage and communication

1 015 1 424 2 373 2 588 7,0 5,2 2,2 5,0 4,4

Finance, insurance, real estate and business services

3646 4 033 6 193 6 658 2,0 4,4 1,8 3,2 3,6

General government 3 233 3 412 4 933 5 513 1,1 3,8 2,8 2,8 3,5

Community, social and personal services

920 1 124 1 417 1 511 4,1 2,3 1,6 2,6 2,1

Source: Quantec (2016)

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The increase in the GVA for mining and quarrying is notable, while the decrease in the

GVA for manufacturing is a concern. A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and

Threats (SWOT) analysis showed that the Kruger National Park is one of the strengths

of the MLM; uncoordinated planning is a weakness; and that opportunities for growth

exist in the tourism sector, while unplanned human settlements are a threat (MLM,

2016/2017). International tourists are responsible for a steady inflow of money into the

region. They visit the top luxury safari lodges such as Sabi Sands Game Reserve and

the Timbavati Game Reserve, which are adjacent to the Kruger National Park and

mostly unaffordable to local tourists. There are no fences between the Kruger National

Park and these private game reserves and the game roams freely between them

(Interviewee 5). A new, fresh produce market is being built in Mbombela which will

serve, amongst others, clients from Mozambique and Swaziland.

About 47 000 households in the rural areas do not have any communication coverage

and are therefore, along with other challenges, unable to alert the Disaster and

Communications Centre during disasters.

3. MAIN SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION ISSUES

The areas under traditional authorities in MLM are far from employment opportunities

and these residents commute daily to Hazyview and Mbombela for work. Buscor

(Pty) Ltd. introduced five concertina busses with three sections for this area

(Interviewee 2). The public transport from these areas is frequent, generally reliable

and reasonably affordable. A taxi trip to work costs about R18 (Interviewee 10).

Additionally, approximately 39% of the households in the areas under traditional

authorities have built houses on wet lines and flood lines, putting them at serious risk

(MLM, 2016/2017). The municipality has established a unit to specifically manage

issues related to traditional leaders. The Transversal Unit has a budget and advocates,

facilitates and manages all issues of transformation (MLM, 2016/2017).

The following initiatives are attempts by the MLM to address spatial transformation:

3.1 Spatial integration

An Urban Edge Policy and the Residential Development Policy were both implemented

by the MLM. Development is further intensified in economic opportunity zones. The

Nsikazi Activity Corridor and the Nelspruit/White River Activity Corridor have been

identified and implementation has already started. Proposals were submitted for

mixed-use developments in the Mataffin Precinct. There are also plans for the Mataffin

Economic Opportunity node to create a desirable and sustainable residential

neighbourhood at the Matsafeni Village.

3.2 Inclusion and access

The Economic Opportunity Zones serve as investment locations. These zones have

higher thresholds associated with higher densities and concentrated flows of people

and are convenient and accessible as they are served by public transport.

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3.3 Growth

New development areas are identified within the urban edge to accommodate the

anticipated future growth of the urban areas, including future population growth. These

areas accommodate different land uses and accompanying infrastructure; schools,

and other community facilities and engineering services required to address new

growth in the area.

3.4 Governance

An objective of the 2011−2030 SDF, which entails the surveying of sites in the area

under traditional authority, will assist the chiefs and headmen to be able to allocate

stands suitable for human settlement (Interviewee 3). MLM began by surveying and

formalising government properties such as schools and police stations (Interviewee 3).

A thorough community engagement policy, namely the Community Engagement

Formalisation Process / Land Tenure Upgrade (MLM, 2017), was prepared to assist in

the formalisation process. The process involves the transformation of vacant land

which is suitable for residential uses. Although the proposed process does not involve

land tenure upgrading. it consists of township establishment and the approval of a

general plan. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform appointed

Umsebe Development Planners to carry out a feasibility study of the land use

management systems and practices in the areas under traditional authority in the

Mpumalanga Province (Umsebe, 2016). These are the most underdeveloped areas

and in need of spatial development intervention (Interviewee 4). South African land

use management is fragmented along apartheid lines, with different levels of control in

different areas.

Traditional leadership is the form of governance experienced by the African people for

centuries. The National Party government (1948−1994) established ten self-governing

territories, called homelands, for different black ethnic groups under the Bantu

Authority Act, Act 68 of 1951 (RSA 1951) which allowed for the establishment of tribal,

regional and territorial authorities. These former homelands were reincorporated into

South Africa and absorbed into the newly established provinces. In these former

homelands, which were under the control of traditional authorities, all spatial planning

and land use control remained the sole responsibility of these traditional authorities

(Umsebe, 2016). The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996

(RSA, 1996) recognises traditional authorities and their role in local government. The

Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, Act 41 of 2003 (RSA, 2003)

instructs that partnerships with local governments must be based on the principles of

mutual respect and recognition of the status and roles of the respective parties and be

guided on the principles of cooperative governance. The Spatial Planning and Land

Use Management Act, Act 16 of 2013 (RSA SPLUMA, 2013) also recognises the

critical role played by traditional authorities within a local government.

Table 9 shows that 9.2% of the MLM falls under traditional authorities.

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TABLE 9: PERCENTAGE OF LAND UNDER CONTROL OF THE TRADITIONAL AUTHORITIES IN THE

MBOMBELA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

Traditional authority Size of traditional authority area

(km²) Percentage of traditional authority

area in municipality

Msogwaba 35 0.6

Lomshiyo 16 0.3

Gutshwa 179 3.3

Masoyi 45 0.8

Mbuyane 86 1.6

Mpakeni 39 0.7

Mdluli 37 0.7

Nkambeni 60 1.1

Total 496 9.2

Size of MLM in km² 5 394

Source: Umsebe (2016)

The Umsebe report (2016:86) found that:

[S]ince the advent of the post 1994 democratic government traditional

authorities are no longer assisted in the establishment of settlements in their

areas. As confirmed by the municipal officials, municipalities have no

capacity or financial means to assist traditional authorities in this regard.

Consequently and due to continuous pressure from their communities,

traditional councils has resorted in establishing new settlements and

extending the existing ones on their own. In general the village headman is

responsible for the demarcating of the sites for residential, business and

agricultural purposes. This is mostly done without consulting their respective

municipalities in terms of installation of bulk services … traditional authorities

were authorized to charge some fees on services rendered to their subjects.

The study has found that all the traditional councils do levy their subjects for

land allocation and this varies from one Traditional Authority to another.

The vast majority, about 500 000 of the population of 89 000 households, live in areas

under traditional authorities (Interviewee 2), where the land is not surveyed and is the

property of national government (Interviewee 9). Instead of paying land tax or for

municipal services, the residents in the regions under traditional authority are only

required to contribute a small annual fee, paid to the Tribal Chief (Interviewees 2

and 3). In MLM the traditional authorities charge a once-off fee of between R180 and

R350 for residential sites and R1 000 to R1 300 for business sites, along with an

annual levy of between R12 and R25 (Umsebe, 2016). MLM initiated a number of land

tenure upgrading projects in traditional authority areas (Interviewee 3), and despite

these projects being welcomed and accepted by the communities, most traditional

councils were strongly opposed to this, mainly through fear that they wold lose power

and control over their land and communities (Interviewee 3; Umsebe, 2016).

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4. ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER PLANS

The vision of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme Framework (RSA,

2009) was to create sustainable rural communities. One of the ways this would be

achieved was through the upgrading of infrastructure which would also contribute

towards social transformation (2011−2030 SDF). As a consequence, agrarian

transformation is one of the priorities of the SDF. Since the National Development Plan

recognises tourism as one of the drivers of the national transformation agenda (RSA,

Department of Tourism, 2016), strengthening transformation and empowerment also

became one of the initiatives of the Mpumalanga Tourism Growth Strategy (2011−2030

SDF).

It should be noted that the current 2011−2030 SDF was compiled by Umsebe

Development Planners and approved by the MLM Council in 2012, a year prior to the

SPLUMA enactment (RSA, 2013) and four years before the Integrated Urban

Development Framework was implemented in 2016 (RSA, Department of Cooperative

Governance and Traditional Affairs [CoGTA], 2016). There was also no provincial SDF

available at the time, but the district SDF was available and consulted (Interviewee 2).

The 2011−2030 SDF is currently under review.

The current 2016/2017 IDP uses the New Partnership for Africa’s Development

imperatives as normative position. These include management and resolution at

subregional and continental level, participatory governance, diversification into agro-

industries, and manufacturing for domestic and export markets (MLM, 2016/2017). The

IDP is aligned with the strategic imperatives of the 2030 National Development Plan,

such as sustainable livelihoods, rural development and integrated human settlements.

MLM compiled a diagnostic report based on the National Development Plan on Vision

2030 (Interviewee 3). The IDP unit of MLM is the custodian of Vision 2013

(Interviewee 8).

The MLM SDF was based on the five principles of the National Spatial Development

Perspective (RSA, 2006). These principles addressed rapid economic growth;

government’s constitutional obligation to provide water and energy services, as well as

health and educational facilities; the notion that government should focus its spending

on fixed investment in localities of economic growth and/or localities with economic

potential to create long-term employment and also to stimulate sustainable economic

growth; efforts to address social inequalities that should focus on people rather than

places; and the development of activity corridors and nodes close to the main growth

centres in order to overcome the inherited spatial segregation (RSA, 2006). A service

provider was appointed to review the 2011−2030 SDF, and CoGTA will monitor the

reviewed 2017 SDF for compliance with SPLUMA. The following issues will be

addressed in the review:

Issues to be addressed in a capital investment framework will be the following:

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• Nodal development will be concentrated on the Eastern Corridor between

Mbombela and White River, allowing the residents close proximity to employment

(Interviewee 3).

• Demographic projections from 2011 onwards (Interviewee 8).

• A cargo section at the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Interviewee 3).

To inform planning initiatives, the 2011−2030 SDF will be aligned with the following

development principles of the Mpumalanga Provincial Growth and Development

Strategy of 2009:

• Using indigenous resources to create jobs.

• Supporting the industrial and service sectors to create jobs.

• Reducing the impact of poverty through social services.

• Enhancing social cohesion and developing human capital.

• Strengthening sustainable environmental development.

• Maximising the provincial benefits from the mining and energy sectors.

• Governance and spatial integration.

The Mpumalanga Integrated Spatial Development Framework (Mpumalanga, 2007)

was consulted to guide the 2011−2030 SDF. As a result, the N4 Maputo Corridor was

identified as one of the key objectives to stimulate regional cooperation and economic

development by reviving this trade and tourism route. The N4 road which passed

through Mbombela was realigned about five years ago and a bypass was built outside

of Mbombela. This had the envisaged outcome of discouraging large freight vehicles

to pass through the city (Interviewee 5). The spatial development frameworks of

adjoining municipalities (Figure 2) were investigated to promote horizontal alignment

between municipalities (Interviewee 2).

The 13 development priorities upon which the MLM agreed, include integrated human

settlements as well as good governance and public participation (MLM, 2016/2017),

which are in line with the 2011−2030 SDF principles (MLM, 2012). The current budget

has prioritised these 13 priorities, and resources were allocated towards this (MLM,

2016/2017).

The establishment of a university was highlighted as a skills and development priority

for the growth and development of Mpumalanga (Mpumalanga, 2008). The former

Lowveld Agricultural College in Mbombela is now a university and offers programmes

which focus on qualifications such as forestry and agriculture, relevant to the Lowveld

and Mpumalanga Province (Interviewee 5). The investment in strategic infrastructure

such as roads, water and sanitation was also determined as a key theme

(Mpumalanga, 2008) and Table 5 shows improvement in this regard. The Draft

Mpumalanga Growth and Development Path (Mpumalanga, 2011) advocated for a

more equitable economy. This document relied on the Mining Charter’s rural enterprise

development and objectives regarding procurement to contribute towards

transformation.

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5. AN OVERVIEW OF THE SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

A thorough public participation process (Error! Reference source not found.) was

followed during the 2012 review of the 2007 SDF (Figure 8), but the public participation

sessions were not attended well (Interviewee 2). The public participation process is in

line with the Stakeholder Participation Policy for MLM which was prepared according

to the Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000. The project steering committee included

the Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (Interviewee 6), the nine traditional

authorities, and the municipal engineers (Interviewee 2). The implementation phase of

the 2011−2030 SDF incorporated a Capital Expenditure Framework with projects,

timeframes and implementation agencies.

Source: MLM (2015)

Figure 7: The public participation process of the 2012 Spatial Development Framework review

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Source: MLM (2012)

Figure 8: Spatial Development Framework for Mbombela Local Municipality (2007)

The following priorities were listed in the 2007 SDF:

• Nodal development.

• Integration of development nodes.

• Urban and rural regeneration.

• To link urban and rural development with social and engineering services.

• Environmental sustainability.

For the 2011−2030 SDF, the principles set out in the Development Facilitation Act were

adopted, namely efficiency, sustainability, equality, integration, as well as fair and good

governance. Strategic frameworks were developed for the following focus areas which

required further detailed planning:

• Rural service centres.

• Urban centres.

• Traditional authority areas.

The following key objectives have been set in the 2011−2030 SDF:

• Compiling a framework for private and public sector investment.

• Promoting sustainable development in the built environment.

• The compilation of a framework on natural resource management and land use

management.

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• To guide major movement routes.

• To facilitate the development of an aesthetic urban form.

One of the major challenges in achieving the above objectives is that in the

development process of the municipal SDF the municipality should consult with the

traditional authorities and afford them opportunity to provide feedback on those

proposals which will affect their land.

An implementation plan with basic guidelines for a land use management system was

proposed, while a monitoring framework was implemented to measure interventions

(MLM, 2016). MLM (2016/2017) identified the following seven spatial strategies which

are in line with the 2011−2030 SDF:

5.1 Introducing a municipal open space system

The residents use the open space and green areas for exercise, recreation, and

cultural and religious activities. Conservation-worthy natural resources and assets

within MLM were therefore identified (Figure 9) to determine where only limited

development would be permitted and where development would be discouraged.

Source: MLM (2012)

Figure 9: Strategy for a municipal open space system

5.2 The protection of prime and unique agricultural land

The constant demand for land for residential and industrial development is an ongoing

threat to economic development and national food security, which depend on the

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availability of prime agricultural land. Through a strategy for the protection of fertile

agricultural land, MLM tries to ensure that development does not compromise food

security or encroach on prime agricultural land within the municipality (MLM,

2016/2017). There is currently a boom in the demand for nuts, particularly macadamia

nuts, which are predominantly exported to China. There are about 100 000 ha of

macadamia orchards in MLM and the profit per hectare is between R20 000 and

R1 000 000 (Interviewee 2).

Balancing agricultural needs and the need for land for residential development

(Interviewee 9) still poses a challenge. The gradient in the area is also problematic and

much land is not developable because of the mountainous nature of the area

(Interviewee 9). To protect prime agricultural land with high yields, the Department of

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries refuse to approve development application outside

the Urban Edge (Interviewee 8). Urban sprawl is rife in Nsikazi where the areas under

traditional authorities are situated, but on the contrary, the retirement villages such a

Bateleur Estate are located within the urban edge although on the outskirts of

Mbombela (Interviewee 4). Areas reserved for new development, mainly for residential

purposes, are near the old Nelspruit airport and adjacent to the Bateleur Estate. The

question is: How much agricultural land can be compromised for residential

development? A trade-off between two pieces of land can be a solution (Interviewee 3).

5.3 Identification of focus areas for land reform

MLM states in its 2011−2030 SDF that they are obliged to identify areas for land reform.

According to the 2011−2016 IDP the Department of Rural Development and Land

Reform should work closely with the MLM to prepare an area-based plan to incorporate

land reform projects into its IDP and SDF.

5.4 The development of rural-based tourism

Local tourism is one of the aspects which influences spatial planning, and according

to the Municipal Structures Act of 1998, the local authority has to promote local tourism.

Completed projects which focussed on tourism in MLM are the Mbombela Soccer

Stadium, the construction of the N4 Northern Bypass and the expansion of the Kruger

Mpumalanga International Airport (MLM, 2012). Key objectives of the Maputo Corridor

were to revive tourism between South Africa and Mozambique and to direct investment

to localities of economic growth. Hopefully this will provide an integrated development

system to eradicate the dysfunctional spatial structure that was created by past spatial

policies.

The Kruger National Park, which is one of the top ten tourist attractions in South Africa,

attracts vast numbers of national and international tourists to MLM (Interviewee 1). To

strengthen rural-based tourism, the 2011−2030 SDF proposes that attractions such as

the Kruger National Park should be included in the broader Mpumalanga Tourism

Growth Strategy.

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The strategic objectives of the Kruger National Park conservation zone aim to improve

access to the Kruger National Park, to exploit the tourism potential provided by the

existing Kruger National Park entrance gates, and that the use of land in this zone

should be in support of and complimentary to the Kruger National Park (MLM, 2012).

5.5 The development of an integrated transport system

To ensure that all residents have convenient and affordable access to the MLM

resources and amenities, an integrated transport system was developed to increase

mobility, particularly between the eastern and western areas of the MLM, while also

promoting spatial reconstruction and integration. This system is aligned with the

Mbombela Integrated Transport Plan and Land Use Transportation Strategy (MLM,

2016/2017). The integrated transport system will focus on a taxi feeder system, a

commuter rail system, interventions on regional roads, as well as a Bus Rapid Transit

system.

5.6 To promote compact and integrated development

The Central Business District (CBD) of Mbombela is busy and vibrant with many

businesses which rely on large volumes of pedestrians. Offices of the National

Government Departments are also located in the CBD (Interviewee 5). A new High

Court was built in the precinct. The regional offices of, for example, Absa, Price

Waterhouse Coopers and First National Bank are located in the extended CBD. Single

residential houses were rezoned in this area (Figure 10) to accommodate the offices

of the above-mentioned companies (Interviewee 5).

White River, which is a 30-minute commute from the Mbombela CBD, serves as a

housing node (Figure 4). H.L. Hall and Sons (an agricultural pioneer of the Lowveld)

developed the Riverside Precinct, which is a compact and integrated live/play/work

node (Interviewee 5). This infill planning addresses the lengthy commutes

(Interviewee 7). The second phase consisted of a motor town, which was followed by

industrial developments. Thereafter the award-winning structure housing the

Mpumalanga Legislature were constructed, followed by the Riverside Mall. These

developments also resulted in White River and Mbombela growing closer towards each

other.

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Source: Author (2017)

Figure 10: Former residential area rezoned to accommodate offices

The 2011−2030 SDF encourages MLM to pursue compact development and to protect

environmentally sensitive land. The higher densities of a more compact MLM will

provide higher thresholds which will result in a viable public transport system. The 2007

SDF indicated that most people from the Nsikazi area had daily commutes of up to two

hours and it therefore suggested that jobs should be created close to where these

people were living or low-cost housing should be built close to places of employment.

Shorter travelling distances would also ensure healthier lifestyles as more facilities and

opportunities would be accessible by foot, bicycle or public transport. The 2011−2030

SDF argues for compact settlements which can be achieved through strategic infill

planning. To achieve the desired spatial pattern, an urban edge is proposed to achieve

a settlement pattern that is largely based on walking distance.

5.7 Addressing development in economic opportunity zones

This MLM strategy encourages all formal and informal economic activity to be located

within the identified accessible economic opportunity zones, where MLM will focus

investment in public infrastructure to attract the private sector (2011−2030 SDF).

These economic opportunity zones should therefore be considered as the logical

investment locations because of their concentration of people, accessibility and that

they are serviced by public transport. All seven spatial strategies are indicated in Figure

11.

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Source: MLM (2012)

Figure 11: 2011−2030 Spatial Development Framework for Mombela Local Municipality

6. ASSESSMENT OF THE SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

6.1 Organisational structure

The Department of City Planning and Development which coordinates integrated

development planning is headed by a general manager and seven senior managers.

The seven divisions of this department as set out in the organisational structure in

Figure 12 are: land-use management; local economic development; rural planning,

traditional affairs and agriculture; human settlements; tourism, business regulations

and governance; spatial development planning; and real estate management.

The spatial planning division as well as the land-use management division are

capacitated by five geographic information systems each (Interviewee 8). Esri, an

international supplier of geographic information system software, web geographic

information systems and geodatabase management applications, update the MLM

software regularly (Interviewee 8).

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Source: MLM (2015)

Figure 12: Organogram of the City Planning and Development Department of Mbombela Local Municipality

6.2 The quality of the planning process

To address the needs and priorities of the MLM community, the 2011−2030 SDF was

prepared in concurrence with the municipal strategies, as included in the IDP. Umsebe

Development Planners was appointed to develop the SDF to which the municipal

engineers contributed significantly (Interviewee 2). A municipal team consisting of the

following representatives managed the project:

• Member of the mayoral committee for city planning and development services.

• Technical services.

• Local economic development.

• Tourism and trade.

• Community services.

• Urban and rural management.

• Corporate strategy.

• Office of the executive mayor.

The 2011−2030 SDF was aligned between the local municipalities within the Ehlanzeni

District Municipality. The development frameworks of adjoining municipalities (Figure

2) were consulted to promote horizontal alignment between municipalities (Interviewee

2). A vertical alignment was created between the district and the MLM SDF. There was

no provincial SDF available at the time, but the district SDF was available and

consulted to ensure vertical alignment (Interviewee 2).

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The Implementation Policies and Guidelines of the Implementation Plan of the

2011−2030 SDF include a residential densification policy; an infrastructure policy and

a sustainability policy. The 82 Strategic Framework Plans also indicate these

guidelines graphically. Proposals were submitted for mixed use developments in the

Mataffin Precinct. These proposals included bulk supply of services to address and

achieve integration, sustainability, as well as equity.

6.3 The quality of the plan

Although MLM received unqualified audit reports in the 2014/2015 financial year, the

Auditor-General has raised certain issues that needed to be addressed (Auditor-

General, 2015). To achieve a clean audit, MLM developed an intervention plan to

address the matters raised by the Auditor-General in 2014/2015 which was included

in their final IDP (MLM, 2016/2017).

The impact of these interventions was monitored to determine the influence on job

creation, the increase or decrease in applications for new businesses, the increase or

decrease in infrastructure upgrading (number of projects completed), and the increase

or decrease in the numbers of national and international tourists visiting MLM. The

large increase in approved building plans from 328 in 2011 to 828 in 2015 is proof of

the positive impact of the intervention plan.

6.4 Degree of implementation

The 2011−2030 SDF have been implemented in 2012. All approval of land use

applications were in line with the SDF and those applications which did not conform,

were referred to the Municipal Tribunal (Interviewee 2). In addition, the SDF served as

a framework for other detailed plans such as the structure plan for Nelspruit

(2011−2030 SDF).

The MLM does not allow any project to commence without the necessary inputs first

being received from the House of Traditional Leaders. Projects are suspended until

receipt of the inputs from the traditional authorities (Interviewee 2). There is prevailing

tension between the traditional authorities and the local municipality due to the

traditional authorities’ resistance to being placed under the jurisdiction of the local

municipality (Interviewee 4). This poses challenges to a local municipality such as MLM

where there are approximately 60 traditional leaders.

The infrastructure departments base their master plans on the current SDF

(Interviewee 8). A lack of bulk services poses a challenge to MLM (Interviewee 3),

heightened by residents’ demands for better services in areas such as Matsulu, which

is an area under traditional authority (Interviewees 11 and 12).

The impact of interventions is monitored to determine the influence on job creation,

applications for new businesses, infrastructure upgrading (number of projects

completed), and the increase or decrease in the numbers of national and international

tourists visiting MLM.

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6.5 Spatial challenges

The following seems to be the most prominent spatial challenges confronting MLM:

• Low residential densities resulting in low thresholds, which poses a challenge to

the public transport system.

• Long travelling times from the areas under traditional authorities to places of

opportunities and particularly jobs.

• The region is mountainous and therefore not all areas are suitable to infill

development, and although it is possible to develop on some of the steep slopes,

the engineering services for such developments are costly.

• In order to achieve its constitutional mandate, the local municipality and the

traditional authorities have to accept one another’s edicts to provide services and

to manage these communities.

• The vast majority, about 500 000 of the population, live in areas under traditional

authority on land which is not surveyed.

• About 47 000 households in the rural areas have no communication coverage and

are therefore unable to alert anyone during disasters.

The underlying causes of these challenges are the inherited spatial segregation of the

former KaNgwane homeland, the prevailing tension between the traditional authorities

and the local municipality due to the traditional authorities’ resistance to being placed

under the jurisdiction of the local municipality, and scarcity of land for residential

development.

7. SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION IMPLEMENTATION

The issue of land availability for residential development imposes constraints to

development and ultimately to transformation. A common dilemma for low income

housing worldwide is the high cost of well-located land. In MLM well-located land is

also costly and therefore unaffordable to lower income families. Land suitable for

residential development is also limited as a result of the topography in MLM. The

mountainous areas are not suitable to development and although it is possible to

develop on some of the steep slopes, the engineering services for such developments

are costly.

The areas under traditional authority are notably poorly serviced which is a constraint

to development and investments in those areas. The road infrastructure is generally

weak in these areas, along with a general lack of sanitation. Water scarcity is a general

cause for concern in MLM (2011−2030 SDF) with commercial agriculture, specifically

sugar cane and subtropical fruit, hydropower stations and mining consuming large

quantities of water.

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8. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

Although traditional authorities manage and govern their area of jurisdiction

successfully, local governments should fulfil their constitutional mandate of

implementing SDFs in areas under the rule of traditional authorities. To achieve this

constitutional mandate, the Umsebe (2016) study recommended that local

municipalities and the traditional authorities accept one another’s mandates to manage

and service these communities. The Umsebe study further recommended that local

municipalities should enter into a service level agreement with each traditional

authority within its area of jurisdiction to ensure the delivery of municipal services.

In the development process of the municipal SDF the municipalities should adequately

consult with the traditional authorities and afford them sufficient opportunity to provide

feedback on those proposals which will affect their land. Local municipalities must also

ensure that traditional authorities are included upon commencement of implementation

of the municipal SDF directives. Traditional authorities should regard the municipal

SDF as a key land development policy document towards guiding their own decision-

making processes on land use issues concerning land under their authority. Umsebe

(2016) further recommended that traditional authorities require training in the

application of the municipal SDF.

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