Informal settlement fires : addressing the issue in Kayamandi

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the issue of informal settlement fires, specifically in Kayamandi atownship of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The study aims toidentify the relevant role-players involved in addressing the issue and to understand theunique dynamics involved in this type of fires at the local level context. The studyilluminates the main contextual factors that contribute to the perpetuation of informalsettlement sprawl in South Africa and that relates to the risk and vulnerability experienced byinformal settlement dwellers.A qualitative research approach was followed and a triangulation of data collection methodswas used, combined with a relatively broad literature study to capture the complexity of therelated issues. The contextual focus includes the macro-economic factors that contribute tothe environment in which informal settlement fires occur, and furthermore, developmental,economic, political and social aspects and the related experience of poverty, urbanisation andunemployment.It was found that the theoretical underpinning of both the fields of Disaster Management andCommunity Development are relevant for analysis and addressing the research questions.Furthermore, that a relationship exists between the Disaster Management, Development andCommunity Development fields. This is particularly evident in Disaster Management policyand planning as related to prevention, mitigation, and public participation, such as communityinvolvement in Community-Based Risk Assessments.Key findings suggest that local government in the demarcated study area has great influenceon how the problem of informal settlement fires is addressed. From national to localmunicipality level, the State plays the largest role in addressing the issue and takes theresponsibility for addressing informal settlement fires as part of disaster managementmandates prescribed in legislation.The local government agenda as influenced by Disaster Management legislation includeefforts related to awareness, education and training focused on Kayamandi as an informalsettlement community and can be considered community development initiatives. Thisfurther relates to the view taken in the thesis that informal settlement fires are a social issueand not only an operational issue. Therefore the broad social, economic and political contextand history were included and it was shown that the 'problem' of informal settlement fires ispart of a greater developmental context and related processes.A variety of community development theories were chosen as a useful framework for analysisin this study and to approach issues of risk and vulnerability on a community level. It alsopresents a conceptual framework for including both non-governmental stake-holders and theaffected community as role-players.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University