Municipal planning in dense rural settlements : a case of Mzinyathi in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
Authors:   , Gwala Sizwe Njabulo 
Published: June 2023

Municipal planning during the Apartheid era in South Africa was rooted in planning policies and legislation that largely excluded the black population group. It was mostly focused on urban centres and suburbs and largely ignored peripheral areas, especially rural settlements. After 1994, a democratic South Africa emerged, inheriting these difficulties, and attempting to ameliorate the dispersed settlement pattern. This reform was aimed at providing a significant role for local government in planning matters. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa as the supreme law of the country, promotes a developmental role for local government is where with municipal planning being one of its main functions. Municipal planning must be used as a tool to transform the spatial structure created by past planning, by incorporating previously neglected and disadvantaged areas situated on the periphery of city centres into municipal plans. This study presents the findings from an investigation on the role and impact of municipal planning in dense rural settlements. The case study was used as the methodological approach for this research study with Mzinyathi in eThekwini Metropolitan as the chosen case. In the literature review, the concepts and classifications of municipal planning and dense rural settlements are discussed. The literature review also presents international experience and cross references in terms of municipal planning. A mixed method approach which entails both qualitative and quantitative methods and techniques of data collection was used for the empirical data collection. This formed the basis of primary and secondary data that was analysed and synthesized. Based on the findings, it can be deduced that municipal planning has not been effective in improving the conditions of people living in densely populated rural areas. The study has made a reasonable attempt to provide the different aspects of municipal planning which include strategic spatial planning and statutory planning. At the centre of this discussion is whether the effects of municipal plans are reaching their intended recipients and the impact this has made in dense rural settlements. The impact of municipal planning has been affected at a policy level by local government restructuring and planning approaches, and at an institutional level by the dual governance of local government and traditional authorities. Increasing population densities in rural areas due to past planning and current migration trends in eThekwini municipality must be taken into account, and public participation is critical in the process of developing municipal plans to heighten the awareness of municipalities and to ensure that the aspirations of the communities are reflected in the plans The study concludes with recommendations based on the literature review and empirical findings from the Mzinyathi study area in eThekwini Municipality. Recommendations include (1) the development of detailed plans for densely populated rural areas; (2) the harmonization and coordination of institutions, especially between management structures and traditional authorities; (3) the strengthening of cooperative forms of planning to ensure a common development vision; (4) strengthening of the relationship between the municipality and traditional leaders through continued engagement; (5) developing flexible planning methods in traditional areas; and (6) involving marginalized groups in urban planning processes.