ResearchSpace :: Browsing by Author "Napier, Mark"

Browsing by Author "Napier, Mark"

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Choices and decisions: Locating the poor in urban land markets
(African Minds, 2013-10) Wanjiku Kihato, C; Napier, Mark
World cities face a bleak future. Global capital, state failure, structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) and a misguided non-profit sector collude to create a world of ‘megaslums’ which are ‘characterised by overcrowding, poor or informal housing, inadequate access to safe water and sanitation, and insecurity of tenure’ (Davis 2006:22). Davis argues that slums are the product of structural processes in cities whose growth is ‘driven by the reproduction of poverty, not by the supply of jobs’ (ibid.: 16). In trying to understand growing poverty in the global economy, leading economist Dani Rodrik contends that the increasing asymmetry between capital and labour values, the decoupling of markets and regulatory institutions, and growing informalisation of work is leading to high levels of inequality and poverty within developing countries and between developing and developed economies.
The Circular Economy as Development Opportunity: Exploring Circular Economy Opportunities across South Africa’s Economic Sectors
(CSIR, 2021-12) Godfrey, Linda K; Nahman, Anton; Oelofse, Suzanna HH; Trotter, Douglas; Khan, Sumaya; Nontso, Zintle; Magweregwede, Fleckson; Sereme, Busisiwe V; Okole, Blessed N; Gordon, Gregory ER; Brown, Bernadette; Pillay, Boyse; Schoeman, Chanel; Fazluddin, Shahed; Ojijo, Vincent O; Cooper, Antony K; Kruger, Daniel M; Napier, Mark; Mokoena, Refiloe; Steenkamp, Anton J; Msimanga, Xolile P; North, Brian C; Seetal, Ashwin R; Mathye, Salamina M; Godfrey, Linda K
The intention of this book is to present the CSIR’s position and interpretation of the circular economy, and to use it to drive discussions on where immediate circular economy opportunities are achievable in South Africa. Opportunities that can be harnessed by business, government and civil society. These circular economy opportunities are framed in this book within the context of the current challenges facing various economic sectors. The CSIR has selected seven, resource intensive sectors – mining, agriculture, manufacturing, human settlements, mobility, energy and water – for further assessment. Many of these economic sectors have seen significant declines over the past years, with agriculture, manufacturing, transport and construction all showing negative growth pre-COVID. These are all sectors under economic stress and in need of regeneration. South Africa stands on the threshold of profound choices regarding its future development path. Transitioning to a more circular economy provides the country with the opportunity to address many national priorities including manufacturing competitiveness, food security; sustainable, resilient and liveable cities; efficient transport and logistics systems; and energy and water security, while at the same time decarbonising the economy. The transition to a circular economy provides the country with an opportunity for green and inclusive development to be the cornerstone of a post-COVID economic recovery. The titles of this book chapters are the following: Chapter 1: Driving economic growth in South Africa through a low carbon, sustainable and inclusive circular economy. Chapter 2: Placing the South African mining sector in the context of a circular economy transition. Chapter 3: Supporting food security and economic development through circular agriculture. Chapter 4: Supporting the development of a globally competitive manufacturing sector through a more circular economy. Chapter 5: Creating resilient, inclusive, thriving human settlements through a more circular economy. Chapter 6: Facilitating sustainable economic development through circular mobility. Chapter 7: Decoupling South Africa’s development from energy demand through a more circular economy. Chapter 8: Decoupling South Africa’s development from water demand through a circular economy.
The circular economy, human settlements and municipal government
(Alive2Green, 2024-01) Cooper, Antony K; Kruger, Tinus; Godfrey, Linda K; Napier, Mark; De Jager, Peta
The linear economy is where resources (including energy and space) move through the economy in one direction, from being harvested, collected or mined, through refining and processing to create products and services, to uses and consumption, until being discarded. This creates value only while available resources are entering at one end and the waste exiting at the other does not foul up anything, or even everything.This chapter considers the current resources within human settlements for circularity, the expected trends, the potential resource constraints for future growth of circularity, key economic and socio-economic gains and losses associated with the linear economy, and opportunities for the circular economy in human settlements.
Creating more resilient, liveable human settlements through a circular economy
(Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), 2025) Gibberd, Jeremy T; Karsten, Carike; Beetge, Carla; Burger, Paul A; Mans, Gerbrand G; Cooper, Antony K; Napier, Mark; Godfrey, Linda K
This study explores the potential of the circular economy for human settlements in South Africa. It reviews current human settlement development pathways and draws on emerging concepts from the circular economy to identify and evaluate more sustainable alternatives. Seventeen (17) circular economy interventions (CEIs) were assessed to determine their appropriateness for South Africa, the sector's readiness to implement them, and the current level of implementation in South African human settlements. Engagement with private and public sector stakeholders showed a high level of familiarity with the 17 identified CEIs. The three most familiar interventions were virtualisation, roof gardens and composting. The three least familiar CEIs were found to be loose-fit, long-life design; equipment libraries; and design for disassembly. There was consensus amongst stakeholders that the adoption of circular practices would be beneficial for South African human settlements. The three most beneficial and appropriate circular interventions to South African human settlements included: greywater reuse; localising supply chains; and urban agriculture. The three least beneficial circular interventions were seen to be biobased construction materials, composting, and reuse of materials and products.
Disability and Universal Access: Observations on housing from the spatial and social periphery
(2006) Napier, Mark; Coulson, J; Matsebe, GN
This chapter is based on work undertaken for an international comparative study on 'enable environments' which included case studies in Pretoria (South Africa) and New Dehli (India), with the focus being the four case study settlements in the South African case study. Both the Indian and South African national governments have kept pace with current international trends in responses to disability, have adopted disability rights measures and have made attempts to move away from the traditional medical model of disability to a social model. The challenge facing both countries is to realise those rights through policy and practice. Both countries present an opprotunity to study the translation of rights into practice at the micro-level.
House modifications for preventing malaria (Review)
(2021-01) Furnival-Adams, J; Olanga, EA; Napier, Mark; Garner, P
Despite being preventable, malaria remains an important public health problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that overall progress in malaria control has plateaud for the first time since the turn of the century. Researchers and policymakers are therefore exploring alternative and supplementary malaria vector control tools. Research in 1900 indicated that modification of houses may be effective in reducing malaria: this is now being revisited, with new research now examining blocking house mosquito entry points or modifying house construction materials to reduce exposure of inhabitants to infectious bites.
The housing careers of black middle-class residents in a South African metropolitan area
(Springer, 2018-01) Marais, L; Hoekstra, J; Napier, Mark; Cloete, J; Lenka, M
Under apartheid, black African households could not own land or homes in most major urban centres in South Africa. This limited residential mobility and locked many households into state rental accommodation in townships. Homeownership for all South Africans was restored in the mid-1980s and the Group Areas Act was repealed in 1991. Democracy opened up economic opportunities previously unavailable to black people. This paper investigates the effect on black middle-class South African households’ residential mobility and housing careers. A retrospective cross-sectional survey of 244 such homeowners in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality determined their last five housing states. Changes in housing state indicated a steady improvement in housing quality, but tenure changes were not necessarily unidirectional – some had reverted to rental. More than 85% of the study participants had used mortgages to finance their housing career. Very few had financed their housing using own savings, an inheritance, or sale of a previous house, and not many had used the government subsidy. We found that housing careers are bridging the historical spatial racial divide in this municipality.
Housing interventions for preventing malaria (Protocol)
(Wiley, 2019-08) Furnival-Adams, J; Olanga, EA; Napier, Mark; Garner, P
This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: Primary: To assess the effects of different structural house modifications on malaria disease burden. Secondary: To explore whether effects vary with level of transmission.
Land and markets in African cities: Time for a new lens?
(African Minds, 2013-10) Napier, Mark
Most people living in cities in Africa live outside of the legal system, without clear rights to the land they occupy. These pieces of land make up the so-called slums which surround and permeate most growing cities, and which are home to between half and three quarters of African urban residents.
A landscape study of South African dissertations in the field of human settlements between 1994 and 2019
(Nelson Mandela University, 2019-12) De Jager, Peta; Van Reenen, Coralie A; Napier, Mark; Sebake, Thandi N; Bole, Sheldon
Macro-perspective on the first decade of South African housing delivery and its contribution towards the formation of sustainable settlements and communities
(2005-12) Napier, Mark
The economic, social and spatial impacts of the national state housing programme in South Africa over the last ten years have been significant. And yet the ability of the programme to produce settlements which can be described as 'sustainable' has been limited. The paper works from a description of some of the key strategic impacts of the programme, towards a vision for the future in which state-sponsored settlements will become more rewarding places to stay.
Making urban land markets work better in South African cities and towns: arguing the basis for access by the poor
(2007-05) Napier, Mark
Contemporary and historical state interventions in South African cities and towns have distorted urban land markets affecting especially the poor. This has resulted in market failure for less wealthy individuals and households in their attempts to find places to live, trade and manufacture in order to earn a decent living. This paper discusses the balance between state allocation of urban land and market distribution of land as a resource, an asset which inevitably becomes a commodity which can be used by the poor more or less effectively to alleviate poverty. Observations are made about how the market has been distorted, and why it would make good sense (socially, economically and ideologically) for poorer communities to be better located in South African urban areas. The paper ends with the beginnings of an agenda for change
Mapping housing research methods: Enhancing the link between research theory and methods in African housing studies
(DST and CSIR, 2018-10) Napier, Mark; Crankshaw, Beth P
Relevant, empirical research creates the foundation for better informed decisions. Poor research that employs inappropriate methods or is without a broader theoretical foundation can lead to poor decision making and the misallocation of resources. This paper seeks to make a methodological contribution by improving our understanding of the potential range of housing research methods, and how housing theory can and should link to choice of method. The paper reviews a number of methodological frameworks with the purpose of identifying what was regarded as conventional housing research, and then to explore potential emerging areas of research methodology that would be useful in advancing housing studies. By mapping housing research methods it becomes more feasible to relate research objectives, in each case, to the more rigorous selection of appropriate research methods and mixes of methods to satisfy those objectives. The broader goal is to contribute to a process of more deliberately establishing housing research as a science so as to meet the growing complexity of the housing challenges that the continent faces, and to build innovation for inclusive development (Kruss, Petersen, Rust, & Tele, 2017).
Smart Cities in South Africa - Can they contribute to spatial transformation and support territorial governance?
(Springer Nature, 2025-06) Petzer, Engela; Kruger, Daniel M; Sebake, Tandi N; Cooper, Antony K; Ragoasha, Matšubu; Napier, Mark; Du Plessis, D
The undoing of the inherited segregated spatial settlement form has proved to be a major challenge, despite the implementation of numerous, deliberate interventions by the South African government over close to three decades. Municipalities, the territorial governance structures closest to citizens and mandated to lead local development, have employed various planning concepts with the aim of effecting spatial transformation. This chapter reflects on the concept of smart cities, including its international origins in the early 1990s and the lack of a collective understanding and varied definitions of the term. The chapter further reflects on what a smart approach to spatial transformation could look like. Lessons that can be learned from local South African smart initiatives are discussed. The chapter concludes that the impact of current South African municipal smart city initiatives on spatial transformation is not immediately apparent; however, when integrated into the system of territorial governance—which aims to unify a place-based approach and multi-level governance—the smart city concept may contribute to spatial transformation over the long term, given an appropriate implementation approach.
Trading places: accessing land in African cities
(African Minds, 2013-10) Napier, Mark; Berrisford, S; Wanjiku Kihato, C; McGaffin, R; Royston, L
This book provides an analytical perspective that is rigorously informed by detailed empirical work, and offers policy advice that is pragmatically grounded in the realities of governance and everyday urban life. Trading Places provides no quick fix, but rather a perspective that allows us to ‘cope with complexity’ and a set of proposals to progressively reshape the relationship between the market, the state, and the urban poor. It requires us to be ‘more nuanced, more incremental, more patient’, but offers us the hope that this approach will lead to land markets that will work more equitably and to state interventions that are more responsive to the lives and needs of the urban poor.
Understanding formality and informality in land and housing exchanges in African cities
(2006-02) Napier, Mark
More than 60% of Africa’s urban population lives in slums and most African countries' population subsist on under US$2.0 per day, and the average probability at birth of not surviving to age 40 is about 38%. 25 to 30% of housing in SA cities is informal; the majority of land and housing transactions are unrecorded. A worldwide Millennium development goal is to significantly improve the lives of 100 million slum dwellers by 2020. It is estimated that approximately 85% of urban land parcels in developing countries and between 40% and 53% of their rural land parcels are held in such a way that they cannot be used to create capital. Suggested solutions to these problems is to extend secure tenure; formalize land markets; extend bank and formal micro-finance (indebtedness of the poor); privatization; complex, strategic decision making tools and have research based on formal information.

Browsing by Author "Napier, Mark"

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