2013_14 IDP Review.pdf - KZN Development Planning

1.6 The legislative and policy environment – recognition &integrationThe planning and development of cities, towns, and rural areas in SouthAfrica are governed by a national developmental agenda. This agendaaims to improve the manner in which urban and rural areas develop toincrease the efficiency, sustainability, and investment potential of allareas, better the conditions in which people live and conduct their dailylives and to protect valuable resources from irresponsible consumption.This developmental agenda finds expression in numerous sets ofnational and provincial legislation and policy documents. In order toensure legitimacy, the Umzinyathi SDF must be formulated within theparameters of this institutional framework. In addition, the SDF is alsoaffected by existing local strategic planning documents, such as theIntegrated Development Plans, that direct development of the district andlocal municipalities.1.7 National legislative and policy contextA number of acts and policies from national and provincial governmentsdeal with spatial and physical development. It is impractical to deal witheach one of these documents in detail. This section therefore insteadfocuses on legislation and policies that have a fundamental impact on themanner in which we address spatial and physical development in townsand rural areas in South Africa.1.8 LegislationSouth African legislation is largely enabling in nature. It therefore doesnot prescribe to municipalities but creates the necessary legalenvironment within which development and planning can take place.Recognising local government as one of the three spheres ofgovernment put a specific emphasis on intergovernmental relations. Theimplication is that the Council is primarily responsible to do their ownplanning while considering the interest and demands of the communitiesand stakeholders. This happens within a reciprocal consideration of theplanning done in neighbouring municipalities and the other spheres ofgovernment.1.9 National policies and frameworksSouth Africa has put a strong emphasis on the development of policy.Policy shows government’s intent and objectives which guides planningand decision-making. The key is to assess the impact of policy at locallevel in terms of its applicability and the Council’s ability to sustain thedevelopment within set policy frameworks.1.10 Provincial legislation, policies and frameworksProvincial policies and frameworks have a more direct impact on localdevelopment. In the application of development frameworks or inconsidering development perspectives one should make a distinctionbetween those aspects which lie within the control of the Council andthose that affects the planning environment in the sense that the Councilmust recognise and adopt its approach and strategies accordingly.1.11 Provincial legislationThe only relevant provincial legislation is the Kwazulu-Natal Planning andDevelopment Act, 2008 (Act no. 6 OF 2008) which aims at regulatingland use management matters. The provisions of the Act do not impactdirectly on the SDF but the SDF do have an direct impact on land usemanagement through providing guidelines and guidance fordevelopment.Provincial policies and development frameworksTwo policy frameworks are relevant in the provincial context. They are:1. Provincial Spatial Economic Development Strategy (PSEDS)2. Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS).Provincial Spatial Economic Development StrategyThe PSEDS was developed as a response to the NSDP and ASGI-SA in2006 as part of the process of aligning local IDPs and the NSDP withinthe framework of the PGDS. Although there is a later version of thePGDS the PSEDS remains valid in terms of its long-term spatial vision.The PSEDS emphasised an incremental approach to development byachieving the following:Provide spatial context to PGDSDraft 2013/14 IDP Review Page 155Prepared by Umzinyathi District Municipality22 March 2013