(Volume 4) - Mental Health Disorders - Vula - University of Cape Town

2. Urban RenewalThe Urban Renewal Strategy was approved by the National Cabinet inOctober 2000 and eight urban renewal pilot areas were identified nation wide.In the Western Cape Province, the townships of Khayelitsha and Mitchell’sPlain were selected for Urban Renewal.(See http://www.capegateway.gov.za/Text/2003/ urp_pamphlet.pdf.)These programmes are administered by the Department of Local Governmentand Housing and aim to provide access to basic services, housing, health andrecreational facilities, to create ‘social infrastructure’, alleviate poverty andprevent crime. The audit of the Programme in 2003 in Khayalitsha indicatedthat a comprehensive range of activities have been undertaken, including:skills development and employment programmes for vulnerable groups; theprovision of child care; improvements of the built environment (streetlights,roads, infrastructure, sports facilities); and the establishment of communitypolice forums and safe schools to name a few measures.(See http://www. capegateway.gov.za/Other/ 2003/audit_prov_projects_khaye_june2003.htm.)Clear outcome measurement is not evident in the audit of the programmes,and no health outcomes were mentioned. Although funding in general hasincreased from 2003 to 2006, funding for certain projects was discontinued,and the reasons for this event were unclear. Despite the apparent successesof this programme, moreover, it does not appear to have been expanded toinclude equally, and more deprived, areas.‣ Comprehensive Urban Renewal strategies have been implementedin two areas of the Western Cape. An audit of these programmesdoes not indicate the measurement of outcomes. If successful,these programmes should be expanded to cover other townships.3. Integrated Poverty Reduction Strategy (IPRS)The Department of Social Development and Poverty Alleviation formulated theIntegrated Poverty Reduction Strategy (IPRS) to address the multiplecomponents of poverty in the Province and in the context of a large numberof poverty alleviation projects not having demonstrated resounding success(Western Cape Department of Social Development and Poverty Alleviation,2005).The authors of the strategy review a range of large-scale poverty alleviationprojects administered by various Departments (Education, SocialDevelopment, Public Works and Local Government) and highlight the need toaddress the following imperatives in order to achieve greater success.(See the Integrated Poverty Reduction Strategy. pages 26-31, for details)‣ A programmatic response involving all stakeholders;‣ Consensus-based decision making by local/community institutionssupported by higher levels of government;‣ Programme design should pre-empt and plan for barriers toimplementation;47