With the fragmentation of South Africa’s spatial planning function and the subsequent transfer of responsibility to the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME), National Planning Commission chairperson and Minister in The Presidency Jeff Radebe reports that an overhaul of the legislation and policies is on the cards to align the respective frameworks concerned with planning the country’s cities.

The DPME is currently mapping out the technical details of taking over the responsibility for driving and producing the National Spatial Development Framework (NSDF) over the next year as it gears up to outline how National Development Plan- (NDP-) aligned programmes will transform South Africa’s spatial structures. However, Radebe told delegates at the recent South African Planning Institute’s seventh Planning Africa Conference that

this was “only one” part of the fragmentation of the current planning system, requiring the department to turn its focus to other areas of concern as soon as the transfer process has been completed.

To accelerate the redesign of the current spatial dynamics, the DPME aims to align all policies and legislation not only with one another, but also with the Constitution and the NDP.

“We need to build on the lessons of the past 22 years and introduce policy and legislative reforms that address the contradictions between different legislation. We need to amend the laws,” he commented.

There is a lot of work ahead to bring in line all the planning-related legislation and correct the defects and deficiencies, clarify ambiguities and close policy vacuums.

To address some of the ambiguity, Cabinet in April approved an Integrated Urban Development Framework that provides a roadmap for spatial transformation and reversing the legacy of apartheid, creating liveable, inclusive and resilient towns and cities.

Further, government is starting to implement– and refine – the recently promulgated Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act.

“We have also developed a discussion document on proposed reforms to the planning system. This document draws on lessons from various countries in different parts of the world and makes a number of proposals that affect all spheres,” Radebe said.

The document is aimed at identifying specific policy instruments and incentives that could serve as the entry points to initiate processes of transformation and ensure that the responsibility for the formulation of the NSDF is assigned to an entity responsible for the national planning function so that spatial planning “played its coordinating role” effectively.

The proposed discussion document also suggests the amendment of the frameworks to introduce “greater flexibility” and put “greater weight” on nonmeasurable aspects of strategic plans and yearly performance plans

It further aims to re-establish a forum for regular interactions to strengthen liason between national and provincial planning entities.

“Planning requires clear and enabling legislation, policies and guiding frameworks. It also requires institutions with people who have the necessary skills and commitment to the transformation of our country. Clarity of roles is necessary, as is the data to support planning.

Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Paul Mashatile added that the “time for disruption” had arrived, with drastic action required to reverse the legacy spatial design, which excluded many people from participating in the economy and accessing opportunities.

“The status quo cannot be allowed to continue,” he said of the lack of “real” integration during the past two decades.

Disruption and reinvention were needed, along with better planning, he told delegates.

“There has to be a paradigm shift as far as spatial planning is concerned.”

South Africa was also shifting from implementing small sporadic projects to clustered, integrated, smart big city megaprojects that were purposefully planned and developed to provide for housing, social amenities and economic opportunity needs.

“Our big cities will provide mixed housing typologies and security of tenure, while fulfilling the principles of integrated development, radical spatial transformation, urban renewal, strengthening institutional capacity and end-user management.”

Mashatile previously indicated that at least six big city developments across Gauteng were in various stages of planning and implementation.

These included Boiketlong, Savannah City and Vaal River City, in the southern corridor; Fort West, in the northern corridor; Leeuwpoort, in the eastern corridor; Lanseria City and Alex City, in the central corridor; and Syferfontein City, in the western corridor.