Reshaping spatial planning paradigm in an attempt to achieve environmental justice in South Africa

Abstract

South Africa, as a country and especially within the context of its geographies, remains scarred by the past apartheid regime. As a result, the country is still struggling with the problems of spatial transformation and inequalities. Recent indications suggest that the country is the leading unequal nation when compared with other states characterised by prevailing inequalities (World Bank, 2018). This study aims to answer the question of how spatial planning could be restructured in order to address environmental justice (EJ) to improve the performance of spatial planning. Planning theories provide procedures for undertaking planning and substance matters, but without proper guidance on the achievement of EJ. In addressing the main research question, the study debates EJ within the context of planning, the extent to which the South African spatial planning responds to EJ, and the factors perceived to enhance or impede the implementation of spatial planning towards EJ. These debates are reflective of the six dimensions of EJ that this study discusses which comprise distributive, recognition, procedural, and substantive justices, the capability approach, as well as just policy. The research study is cross-sectional in design and adopts a mixed-research approach so as to address the three research sub-questions. The sample of the study comprises seventyone municipalities selected from six provinces of South Africa. These municipalities include seven metropolitan, twelve district, and fifty-two local municipalities. The data collection methods include the administration of questionnaires in 71 municipalities, interviews of nine planning experts, and a corpus review (including literature, reports and legislation). The analysis of data includes both qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods, drawing its foundation from the philosophies of interpretivism and positivism. This study reveals that the concept of EJ is unpopular among municipal planners. Furthermore, it alludes to the fact that the first generation (rational, incremental, and mixedscanning) and second generation (advocacy, transactive and communicative planning) planning approaches lack the adequate incorporation of EJ dimensions. In addition, this study found that there exists weak recognition of EJ in municipal planning practices, notwithstanding that some South African planning Acts make provision for EJ in planning, at least to some extent. The results of the study reveal that municipalities in South Africa focus more on compliance than on being outcome-oriented in the implementation of spatial planning. The findings furthermore indicate that the lack of spatial planning prioritization, political pressure, inadequate tools of trade, and exclusion of context are the highest-ranking factors across four categories (structural, administrative, political, and contextual) perceived to impede spatial planning towards achieving EJ. The study further suggests that the adoption of spatial planning implementation (SPI) strategies, capacity building for political leaders on spatial planning, competent and skilful personnel, and public awareness and education are the highest-ranked factors that planners perceive as having the potential to enhance spatial planning in the achievement of EJ. The research introduces the thirdgeneration planning approach, based on EJ, with principles and propositions. The study also proposes a conceptualization of the SPI strategy to support spatial planning. Lastly, the study recommends guidelines for the implementation of EJ in spatial planning. The researcher concludes that the practice of EJ in planning requires extensive capacity building among planners, communities, sectors, and leaders.