IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i13p6075-d1693376.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An Analysis of Implementation Constraints of Spatial Planning Tools for Disaster Risk Reduction in Mopani’s Informal Settlements, South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Juliet Akola

    (Public Administration and Economics Department, Faculty of Management Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, 4026 511 Griffiths Mxenge Highway, Durban 4031, South Africa)

  • Mvuyana Bongekile Yvonne Charlotte

    (Public Administration and Economics Department, Faculty of Management Sciences, Mangosuthu University of Technology, 4026 511 Griffiths Mxenge Highway, Durban 4031, South Africa)

Abstract

Urbanization is rapidly transforming cities, especially in the Global South, with Sub-Saharan Africa expected to see the fastest growth in the next 30 years. In South Africa’s Mopani District, this urban expansion has led to the growth of informal settlements, increasing disaster risks related to water, health, and fire. This study focuses on Giyani Local Municipality, examining disaster risks in its informal settlements and the factors influencing the implementation of spatial planning tools. Using a SWOT analysis combined with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), the study found that while the municipality has strong land use and disaster management policies, poor enforcement, lack of integration, and weak governance limit their effectiveness. Opportunities for improvement include securing grants from the National Government and Disaster Management Centre to support disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives. However, challenges such as land shortages and ecological degradation threaten sustainable planning. The findings provide important insights for policymakers, urban planners, and disaster management professionals. The SWOT-AHP approach helps in prioritizing resource allocation, identifying risk trends, and focusing on key areas for mitigation. Overall, the study supports efforts to enhance resilience and promote sustainable urban development in informal settlements through better spatial planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Juliet Akola & Mvuyana Bongekile Yvonne Charlotte, 2025. "An Analysis of Implementation Constraints of Spatial Planning Tools for Disaster Risk Reduction in Mopani’s Informal Settlements, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-21, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:6075-:d:1693376
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/6075/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/6075/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abraham R Matamanda, 2020. "Battling the informal settlement challenge through sustainable city framework: experiences and lessons from Harare, Zimbabwe," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(2), pages 217-231, March.
    2. Stéphane Hallegatte & Adrien Vogt-Schilb & Julie Rozenberg & Mook Bangalore & Chloé Beaudet, 2020. "From Poverty to Disaster and Back: a Review of the Literature," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 223-247, April.
    3. Dyson, Robert G., 2004. "Strategic development and SWOT analysis at the University of Warwick," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(3), pages 631-640, February.
    4. Filippos Eliades & Maria K. Doula & Iliana Papamichael & Ioannis Vardopoulos & Irene Voukkali & Antonis A. Zorpas, 2022. "Carving out a Niche in the Sustainability Confluence for Environmental Education Centers in Cyprus and Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-17, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Toplu-Tutay, Gizem & Hasenbein, John J. & Kutanoglu, Erhan, 2024. "Impact of power outages depends on who loses it: Equity-informed grid resilience planning via stochastic optimization," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    2. Jitendar Kumar Khatri & Bhimaraya Metri, 2016. "SWOT-AHP Approach for Sustainable Manufacturing Strategy Selection: A Case of Indian SME," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 17(5), pages 1211-1226, October.
    3. Chirisa, Innocent & Matamanda, Abraham R. & Mazanhi, Patience, 2020. "Resisting, frustrating or embracing the urban agenda: Chieftaincies in Southern Africa examined constitutionally and statutorily," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    4. Claudio Baudino & Nicole Roberta Giuggioli & Rossella Briano & Stefano Massaglia & Cristiana Peano, 2017. "Integrated Methodologies (SWOT, TOWS, LCA) for Improving Production Chains and Environmental Sustainability of Kiwifruit and Baby Kiwi in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-18, September.
    5. Sonia Akter & R. Quentin Grafton, 2021. "Do fires discriminate? Socio-economic disadvantage, wildfire hazard exposure and the Australian 2019–20 ‘Black Summer’ fires," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 165(3), pages 1-21, April.
    6. Fernando Morante-Carballo & Bethy Merchán-Sanmartín & Allen Cárdenas-Cruz & Maria Jaya-Montalvo & Josep Mata-Perelló & Gricelda Herrera-Franco & Paúl Carrión-Mero, 2022. "Sites of Geological Interest Assessment for Geoeducation Strategies, ESPOL University Campus, Guayaquil, Ecuador," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, May.
    7. Shreya Bhattacharya & Basanta Kumar Das & Aparna Roy & Prateep Kumar Nayak & Avishek Saha & Pranaya Kumar Parida & Lianthuamluaia Lianthuamluaia & Kausik Mondal & Sangeeta Chakraborty, 2024. "Socio-Economic Profile and Vulnerabilities Assessment in Small-Scale Fisheries of Lower Gangetic Flood Plain Wetland: An Initiative Towards Achieving Wetland Ecosystem Sustainability and Community Wel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-22, November.
    8. Juliet Akola & James Chakwizira & Emaculate Ingwani & Peter Bikam, 2023. "Awareness Level of Spatial Planning Tools for Disaster Risk Reduction in Informal Settlements in Mopani District, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-13, March.
    9. Susana Ferreira, 2024. "Extreme Weather Events and Climate Change: Economic Impacts and Adaptation Policies," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 16(1), pages 207-231, October.
    10. Mohamad F. N. Aulady & Dwini Handayani & Toshio Fujimi, 2025. "Enhancing emergency kit preparedness of Indonesia’s poor community through insight from behavioral economics," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 121(2), pages 2095-2110, January.
    11. Maruyama Rentschler,Jun Erik & Salhab,Melda, 2020. "People in Harm's Way : Flood Exposure and Poverty in 189 Countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9447, The World Bank.
    12. Yidi Liu & Xin Li & Zhiqiang (Eric) Zheng, 2024. "Consequences of China’s 2018 Online Lending Regulation and the Promise of PolicyTech," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 35(3), pages 1235-1256, September.
    13. Sepehr Ghazinoory & Mansoureh Abdi & Mandana Azadegan-Mehr, 2010. "Swot Methodology: A State-of-the-Art Review for the Past, A Framework for the Future," Journal of Business Economics and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(1), pages 24-48, November.
    14. Teresa Janz & Gassmann,Franziska & de Ervin,Lyliana Gayoso, 2024. "Weathering Shocks : Unraveling the Effects of Short-Term Weather Shocks on Poverty in Paraguay," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10970, The World Bank.
    15. Alireza Radan & Milad Latifi & Minoo Moshtaghie & Mozhgan Ahmadi & Maryam Omidi, 2017. "Determining The Sensitive Conservative Site In Kolah Ghazi National Park, Iran, In Order To Management Wildlife By Using Gis Software," Environment & Ecosystem Science (EES), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 1(2), pages 13-15, November.
    16. Toon Haer & Marleen de Ruiter, 2024. "A multi-hazard perspective on equitable adaptation and how to assess it," PLOS Climate, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(12), pages 1-21, December.
    17. Huirong Chen & Jianzhong Yang & Jinliang Wang, 2024. "Spatio-Temporal Pattern and Vulnerability Assessment of the Human Settlements along the Beibu Gulf Coast of Guangxi, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-18, March.
    18. Edison Navarrete & Fernando Morante-Carballo & Jairo Dueñas-Tovar & Paúl Carrión-Mero & María Jaya-Montalvo & Edgar Berrezueta, 2022. "Assessment of Geosites within a Natural Protected Area: A Case Study of Cajas National Park," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-26, March.
    19. Scholz, Roland W. & Czichos, Reiner & Parycek, Peter & Lampoltshammer, Thomas J., 2020. "Organizational vulnerability of digital threats: A first validation of an assessment method," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 282(2), pages 627-643.
    20. Oscar Zapata, 2023. "Weather Disasters, Material Losses and Income Inequality: Evidence from a Tropical, Middle-Income Country," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 231-251, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:6075-:d:1693376. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.