Incorporating Regionalism into Mainstream IDPs
Advisory work for SALGA on embedding regionalism in Integrated Development Planning, drawing on the full landscape of 278 South African municipalities and two district case studies.
2020 · South African Local Government Association (SALGA) · Regional planning advisory · 4 months duration
Key contributors: Dr Johnny Coetzee, Dylan La Loux
SALGA appointed Cadre to find new ways of incorporating regionalism into mainstream Integrated Development Planning through consultation and data gathering. The study drew on the Municipal Demarcation Board's landscape of 278 municipalities — 8 metropolitan, 44 district and 226 local — with a focus on growing local economies and providing infrastructure and services.
Cadre grounded the work in a literature review spanning the draft National Spatial Development Framework (2020), SPLUMA's provision for regional SDFs, the Back to Basics programme and the District Development Model announced in the February 2020 State of the Nation Address. Consultation centred on the Bojanala Platinum and Central Karoo district municipalities. When Covid-19 prevented face-to-face engagement, Cadre ran a three-step remote process: an initial Mentimeter questionnaire, Zoom meetings per district, and a final follow-up questionnaire.
The findings — sporadic intergovernmental engagement, unexploited transport corridors and resource constraints — informed guidance for regional plans that identify collaboration opportunities and manage shared threats. SALGA confirmed all deliverables were met to its satisfaction.
Key figures: 278 municipalities in scope | 2 district case studies | 3-step remote consultation process