Public participation in town-planning applications: Tlokwe Local Municipality as a case study
Although public participation is deemed important in South Africa, negative perceptions of its legitimacy are widely acknowledged. Inclusive town-planning processes, as instruments to address inequality, have a significant role in enhancing democracy. This article reports on a study done from a comm...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of the Free State
2013-05-01
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| Series: | Town and Regional Planning |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/trp/article/view/527 |
| _version_ | 1819209664741507072 |
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| author | Karen Puren Tjaart Goosen Tarina Jordaan |
| author_facet | Karen Puren Tjaart Goosen Tarina Jordaan |
| author_sort | Karen Puren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although public participation is deemed important in South Africa, negative perceptions of its legitimacy are widely acknowledged. Inclusive town-planning processes, as instruments to address inequality, have a significant role in enhancing democracy. This article reports on a study done from a communicative planning perspective, with the aim to investigate the influence of public participation in town planning by means of an analysis of town-planning application procedures between 1992-2008 in the Tlokwe Local Municipality, North-West province, South Africa. The results indicate that only 6% of all commentary on planning applications consists of objections from the public. Technically motivated objections and town-planning firms had the most influence on planning outcomes. This seems to indicate reactive and consultative participation wherein the final decision resides with the local authority. It appears that public participation’s idealistic ‘feel good’ mask does not live up to the expectations of an empowered civil society. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:58:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-620055bfcbde4c1cb5293556833e8ebb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1012-280X 2415-0495 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:58:53Z |
| publishDate | 2013-05-01 |
| publisher | University of the Free State |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Town and Regional Planning |
| spelling | doaj.art-620055bfcbde4c1cb5293556833e8ebb2022-12-21T17:57:44ZengUniversity of the Free StateTown and Regional Planning1012-280X2415-04952013-05-01623043Public participation in town-planning applications: Tlokwe Local Municipality as a case studyKaren Puren0Tjaart Goosen1Tarina Jordaan2North-West University, South AfricaNational Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, South AfricaNorth-West University, South AfricaAlthough public participation is deemed important in South Africa, negative perceptions of its legitimacy are widely acknowledged. Inclusive town-planning processes, as instruments to address inequality, have a significant role in enhancing democracy. This article reports on a study done from a communicative planning perspective, with the aim to investigate the influence of public participation in town planning by means of an analysis of town-planning application procedures between 1992-2008 in the Tlokwe Local Municipality, North-West province, South Africa. The results indicate that only 6% of all commentary on planning applications consists of objections from the public. Technically motivated objections and town-planning firms had the most influence on planning outcomes. This seems to indicate reactive and consultative participation wherein the final decision resides with the local authority. It appears that public participation’s idealistic ‘feel good’ mask does not live up to the expectations of an empowered civil society.http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/trp/article/view/527public participationSouth Africatown planningurban planning |
| spellingShingle | Karen Puren Tjaart Goosen Tarina Jordaan Public participation in town-planning applications: Tlokwe Local Municipality as a case study Town and Regional Planning public participation South Africa town planning urban planning |
| title | Public participation in town-planning applications: Tlokwe Local Municipality as a case study |
| title_full | Public participation in town-planning applications: Tlokwe Local Municipality as a case study |
| title_fullStr | Public participation in town-planning applications: Tlokwe Local Municipality as a case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Public participation in town-planning applications: Tlokwe Local Municipality as a case study |
| title_short | Public participation in town-planning applications: Tlokwe Local Municipality as a case study |
| title_sort | public participation in town planning applications tlokwe local municipality as a case study |
| topic | public participation South Africa town planning urban planning |
| url | http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/trp/article/view/527 |
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