The South African Planning Institute (SAPI) Conference, titled Planning Africa 2024: Sustainable Futures – From Theory to Practice, recently took place at the elegant Elangeni Hotel in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. This year's conference gathered a diverse array of professionals from the field of urban and regional planning to explore and discuss innovative strategies for creating sustainable urban futures.
The theme, Sustainable Futures: From Theory to Practice, underscored the crucial journey from conceptual frameworks to actionable solutions in urban planning. The conference provided a vibrant platform for practitioners, researchers, and policy makers to share insights and experiences, fostering a dynamic dialogue on the pressing challenges and opportunities in planning for sustainability.
Darren Majiedt and Boitumelo Maleka had the distinct pleasure of presenting their respective master’s dissertations. Darren Majiedt presented his research, titled The role of Urban and Regional Planning in Ensuring Vitality within Central Business Districts: a case of Bloemfontein, RSA. The research examines the revitalisation of Bloemfontein's CBD through urban and regional planning, addressing challenges such as business migration, economic decline, and infrastructure deterioration. It highlights vitality – which is characterised by diverse land uses and mixed building conditions – as a crucial tool for central business district renewal. The study recommends strategies such as mixed-use zoning and city improvement districts, with insights applicable to global CBD revitalisation efforts. Boitumelo Maleka presented her research, titled Exploring the challenges and opportunities of using sectional title schemes as a tool for property owner-led urban revitalisation – using Moshoeshoe Street, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality as a case study. The study examines the use of sectional title schemes for urban revitalisation on Moshoeshoe Street in Bloemfontein. Findings show mixed awareness of the schemes and support for private-public partnerships. Recommendations focus on formalising land agreements and educating property owners to boost economic potential. Both sparked engaging discussions and valuable feedback from fellow attendees. “Sharing our research with such a knowledgeable audience of peers within the field of urban and regional planning was both inspiring and enlightening, offering new perspectives on how our work contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable urban development,” explained Majiedt.
Hosting the SAPI conference in Durban within the eThekwini Municipality served as an excellent backdrop due to the city's pressing urban planning challenges, such as infrastructure decay and service delivery issues, making it a relevant case study for urban revitalisation, explained Majiedt. The conference sessions were not only rich in content, but also facilitated meaningful networking opportunities, allowing them to connect with leading experts and fellow researchers in the field.
Overall, the SAPI Planning Africa 2024 Conference was a resounding success, offering invaluable insights into the practical applications of sustainability theories in urban planning. It reinforced the importance of collaborative efforts and innovative thinking in shaping resilient and liveable cities for the future.
For those interested in urban and regional planning, attending such conferences is a fantastic way to stay abreast of emerging trends and contribute to the continuing dialogue on creating sustainable communities.