Local government & service delivery INTEGRATED PLANNING
CHAPTER 2
The early years of democratic government in South Africa were fraught with a minefield of old apartheid legislation defining what could and could not be done. Given that this legislation was very restrictive and contradictory in how land could be assembled, what plans could be passed, how buildings were regulated and the like, national government passed the Development Facilitation Act (DFA) in 1995 to allow for the fast tracking of larger developments. Whilst meant to be for the development of RDP housing, many private sector developers took advantage of this legislation in Gauteng, building shopping centres and walled estates all over the province. Notwithstanding this, the DFA was important in developing new principles for planning and, by 2000, the Gauteng Spatial Development Framework identified five factors for development in the province: 1. Contained urban growth 2. Resource - based economic development (resulting in the identification of the economic core) 3. Re-direction of urban growth 4. Protection of rural areas and enhancement of tourism and agricultural related activities 5. Increased access and mobility The Gauteng Planning and Development Act, 2003, which outlined principles to promote the spatial restructuring and development of Gauteng, followed this. It provided a framework for the preparation of development plans and spatial frameworks and set out principles for planning and development in the province to promote spatial restructuring and sustainable development. These principles correlate with those as set out in the DFA. As Tshwane started taking shape in the early 2000s, its leadership realised the importance of ensuring the development of a clear strategy. This led to the 2004 City Development Strategy providing an excellent set of focus areas for City planning: 1. Infrastructure-led expansion of development potential of the north to tackle poverty. 2. Continued sound management and development of the established urban areas (Pretoria Central, Centurion, South-eastern Pretoria, Mamelodi and Atteridgeville/Laudium) by maintaining services and
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