Achieving focused infrastructure investment in South Africa: Technical advances in provincial spatial planning

Abstract

This paper presents the CSIR’s contribution to technical advances in the approach to provincial spatial planning in South Africa. It demonstrates the CSIR’s involvement in conducting the national Provincial Growth and Development Strategy Assessment for The Presidency, and in making a contribution towards addressing some of the weaknesses of provincial-level spatial planning identified in this assessment. The specific focus is on specialist services (spatial analysis and policy advice) undertaken by CSIR Built Environment’s planning support systems group for Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces. This involved sharpening and refining spatial planning by i) applying a national spatial analysis frame developed by the CSIR, ii) implementing a normative, principle-led approach to spatial planning by quantifying spatial dimensions of poverty and economic activity, iii) quantifying flows and linkages within and between provinces, and iv) providing recommendations for spatially focused and differentiated investment responses