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PhD on urban pacification, a pioneering contribution to town planning in South Africa

07 December 2023 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Charl Devenish

Dr Michelle Goliath completed her PhD in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of the Free State (UFS) and received her qualification during the December graduations.

The PhD, which she began in 2018 under supervision of Prof Malene Campbell, is titled Urban Pacification Strategies and Solutions: Towards a Contested Space Theory of Artisanal Mining.

The focus of her thesis was on finding strategies to address informal mining in urban areas. “It considers the formalisation of informal miners, adapted land use management, risk management solutions, and action research to solve complex problems. In addition, it also looks at the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of the challenge and proposes a unique practical methodology on how to solve similar complex problems and challenges that urban planners and policy makers face daily,” explains Dr Goliath.

A foundation for informed decision making

She is of the opinion that her research provides a foundation for informed decision making by town planners who seek to proactively address and mitigate challenges around artisanal mining.

Dr Goliath’s thesis introduces innovative strategies for managing land use specifically designed for the challenges of artisanal mining. She believes that recognising the importance of flexible and innovative land-use policies demonstrates a deep understanding of the spatial aspects involved in effectively accommodating and regulating artisanal mining activities. As reported by Dr Goliath, this customised approach ensures that the rules fit the unique characteristics of artisanal mining, promoting sustainable urban development.

Moreover, by integrating action research methodologies into the thesis, a dynamic and collaborative element is introduced into the decision-making process. She says that engaging in practical, on-the-ground research in collaboration with practitioners – in this instance a community of women artisanal miners in Kimberley – advocates for evidence-based decision making in urban planning. “This approach not only enriches the theoretical foundation of the thesis, but also ensures that the proposed solutions are rooted in the practical realities of the South African context,” she states.

Furthermore, the thesis offers both theoretical insights and practical policy recommendations, ensuring that its research findings extend beyond academia. These insights are directly applicable to the challenges confronted by town planners in South Africa and policy planners in other SADEC countries who are still navigating the policy process for similar challenges. “The incorporation of global trends in artisanal mining allows for a comparative approach, enhancing the relevance and transferability of the recommendations both locally and internationally,” remarks Dr Goliath.

The impact of empowerment

She says it is fulfilling to witness the transformative impact of empowerment. “Engaging with and supporting women in the artisanal mining sector has not only enhanced their economic opportunities but has also contributed to broader social and community development. It is the empowerment of these women, their resilience, and the tangible positive shifts in their lives that stand out as the most rewarding and impactful outcomes of my work in Kimberley.”

Besides the opportunity to help this group of women, she was also excited about the chance to contribute new knowledge and insights to the field. “The process of delving into unexplored aspects of artisanal mining in Kimberley, conducting thorough investigations, and analysing longitudinal data has been intellectually stimulating,” she states.

“The prospect of offering novel perspectives, innovative solutions, and evidence-based recommendations through my research is particularly thrilling. Witnessing the potential for this work to make a meaningful impact on policies, practices, and the lives of individuals involved in artisanal mining adds a sense of purpose and excitement to the research journey,” concludes Dr Goliath.

News Archive

UFS researchers receive awards from the NSTF

2008-06-04

The recipients of the two awards are, from the left: Prof. Jan van der Westhuizen, UFS Department of Chemistry, Dr Susan Bonnet, UFS Department of Chemistry, Prof. Thinus van der Merwe, FARMOVS-PAREXEL, Prof. Maryke Labuschagne, UFS Department of Plant Sciences, and Prof. Ken Swart, FARMOVS-PAREXEL.
Photo: Lacea Loader

UFS researchers receive awards from the NSTF

The University of the Free State (UFS) last week received two prestigious awards from the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) during its tenth gala-awards ceremony held in Kempton Park.

Prof. Maryke Labuschagne from the Department of Plant Sciences at the UFS was the female recipient of the research capacity-development award over the last ten years. She received the award for her successful mentoring of black researchers and students. The award, sponsored by Eskom, includes a prize of R100 000 which will be used for research purposes.

A team consisting of Prof. Jan van der Westhuizen and Dr Susan Bonnet from the Department of Chemistry at the UFS and Prof. Kenneth Swart and Prof. Thinus van der Merwe from FARMOVS–PAREXEL received the innovation award for an outstanding contribution to science, engineering and technology from either an individual or a team over the last ten years.

Prof. Labuschagne, an expert in the field of plant breeding and food security in Africa, received the award for her contribution to the training and development of black students and researchers in this field. Various black students successfully completed their postgraduate studies under her guidance at the UFS during the past ten years, with positive results.

Research by her South African students has led to a firmly entrenched research relationship between the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the UFS, while research by her local and international students has culminated in no less than 82 publications over the last decade.

It has also led to the establishment of collaboration agreements with universities and research institutes in Malawi, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania – among others with the University of Malawi where Prof. Labuschagne and her students are involved in the International Programme in the Chemical Sciences (IPICS) of the Uppsala University in Sweden. The project focuses on the study of genetics and chemistry of tropical roots and tuber crops in Malawi. This has led to collaboration with international research organisations and has generated overseas funding.

The combined team from FARMOVS–PAREXEL and the UFS won an award for the synthesis of drug analogues used as reference products during the analysis of the drug concentration in blood, from existing and new drugs registered nationally and internationally.

The project resulted in capacity building in synthetic organic chemistry, mass spectrometry and chromatography: Five master’s degrees were completed, seven are in progress, and six postgraduate students commenced with Ph.D.’s.

The skills transferred during this project are already being applied to examine the properties of indigenous medicinal plants as part of the recently established UFS novel drugs and bioactive compound cluster.

Applied Biosystems, the Canadian manufacturer of mass spectrometers, donated equipment to the value of more than R10 million for this project. As a result the UFS is one of the few universities in the world that can offer postgraduate training in bioanalytical chemistry.

Prof. Hendrik Swart, head of the Department of Physics at the UFS, and Dr Martin Ntwaeaborwa, senior lecturer at the Department of Physics were finalist in the research- capacity developer and black-researcher categories respectively.
The NSTF awards gives recognition to the outstanding contributions of individuals and groups to science, engineering and technology. This includes all practising scientists, engineers and technologists across the system of innovation, including, for example, teachers and students in mathematics, science and technology. The NSTF represents government, science councils, professional bodies, higher education, business and civil society.

Altogether nine individuals and three organisations were presented with the NSTF Awards trophy by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
4 June 2008

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