Impact of Covid-19 on Urban and Regional Planning in Gauteng
Commissioned research into what the pandemic exposed about planning in Gauteng — and what must change in policy, capacity and disaster readiness.
2021 · Gauteng COGTA · Research & socio-economic studies · 6 months duration
Key contributors: Dylan La Loux
Gauteng's Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs commissioned Cadre to research the pandemic's impact on urban and regional planning and to develop recommendations for future planning processes.
The methodology combined a literature review, input from South Africa's scenario planners, virtual workshops with researchers, decision-makers and urban planners, and structured respondent surveys using scaled ratings and ranking exercises.
The research found planning structures largely unprepared — respondents scored pandemic preparedness at a weighted average of just 1.07 out of 5 — and identified human behaviour and poverty as the two major vulnerability factors. Respondents ranked the statement that interventions caused more harm than the virus itself highest among the options tested. Recommendations covered policy review, municipal capacity building, health-disaster research, and structured disaster risk collaboration.
Key figures: Province-wide study | 1.07/5 preparedness score | 6-month delivery