Case Of Cape Town Research Articles

Optimizing Local Climate Zones through Clustering for Surface Urban Heat Island Analysis in Building Height-Scarce Cities: A Cape Town Case Study

Studying air Urban Heat Islands (AUHI) in African cities is limited by building height data scarcity and sparse air temperature (Tair) networks, leading to classification confusion and gaps in Tair data. Satellite imagery used in surface UHI (SUHI) applications overcomes the gaps which befall AUHI, thus making it the primary focus of UHI studies in areas with limited Tair stations. Consequently, we used Landsat 30 m imagery to analyse SUHI patterns using Land Surface Temperature (LST) data. Local climate zones (LCZ) as a UHI study tool have been documented to not result in distinct thermal environments at the surface level per LCZ class. The goal in this study was thus to explore relationships between LCZs and LST patterns, aiming to create a building height (BH)-independent LCZ framework capable of creating distinct thermal environments to study SUHI in African cities where LiDAR data are scarce. Random forests (RF) classified LCZ in R, and the Single Channel Algorithm (SCA) extracted LST via the Google Earth Engine. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD, assessed thermal distinctiveness, using a 95% confidence interval and 1 °C threshold for practical significance. Semi-Automated Agglomerative Clustering (SAAC) and Automated Divisive Clustering (ADC) grouped LCZs into thermally distinct clusters based on physical characteristics and LST data internal patterns. Built LCZs (1–9) had higher mean LSTs; LCZ 8 reached 37.6 °C in Spring, with a smaller interquartile range (IQR) (34–36 °C) and standard deviation (SD) (1.85 °C), compared to natural classes (A–G) with LCZ 11 (A–B) at 14.9 °C/LST, 17–25 °C/IQR, and 4.2 °C SD. Compact LCZs (2, 3) and open LCZs (5, 6), as well as similar LCZs in composition and density, did not show distinct thermal environments even with building height included. The SAAC and ADC clustered the 14 LCZs into six thermally distinct clusters, with the smallest LST difference being 1.19 °C, above the 1 °C threshold. This clustering approach provides an optimal LCZ framework for SUHI studies, transferable to different urban areas without relying on BH, making it more suitable than the full LCZ typology, particularly for the African context. This clustered framework ensures a thermal distinction between clusters large enough to have practical significance, which is more useful in urban planning than statistical significance.

Investigating the effect of ambient light conditions on road traffic crashes: The case of Cape Town, South Africa

Investigating the risk of road crashes associated with ambient light is often challenged by bias resulting from confounding effects of other risk factors. The study used the odds ratio and the risk ratio methods to isolate the effect of ambient light from other risk factors. This was possible in this research using the ‘whole-year’ approach adopted in previous research and utilising seasonal variations in ambient light in Cape Town. The analysis was based on crash and ambient light data collected between 2014 and 2018 in Cape Town. A total of 361 452 crashes were reported during this period. With only minor exceptions, the results confirm a higher crash risk in both twilight and dark conditions. The increase in the risk was different depending on the ambient light level, the crash type (total and pedestrian crashes) and the time of the day (morning and evening times). The results suggest that more efforts need to be made to assist road users to travel safely under twilight and dark conditions.

A Poisoned Sense of Place: Characterising Spatial Politics in a City: The Case of Cape Town’s Property-Owning Democracy

South Africa is undergoing a rapid decline in social and political cohesion at various scales. This paper explores Cape Town’s experience of socio-territorial messages and identities deployed by the City administration and the leading party, the Democratic Alliance. I focus on relational constructions of the subjectivity of the ‘ratepayer’ and the deserving Capetownian as constructed in the City and the DA’s discourse and policy measures in juxtaposition to ‘street people’ and other supposedly deviant urban subjects and how, as such, the wilful ignorance of the first remains both unchallenged and in service of an exclusionary and unjust spatial order.

Economic risk assessment of climate change at the city level. The case of Cape Town, South Africa

ABSTRACTEstimating the economic risks of climate shocks and climate stressors on spatially heterogeneous cities over time remains highly challenging. The purpose of this paper is to present a practical methodology to assess the economic risks of climate change in middle-income cities to inform municipal climate response strategies. Building on a capital-based framework (CBF), spatially disaggregated baseline and future scenario scores for economic wealth and its exposure to climate change are developed for six different classes of capital across 77 major suburbs in Cape Town, South Africa. Capital-at-risk was calculated by combining relative exposure and capital scores across different scenarios, with population impacted for major suburbs and the city’s eight main planning districts. The economic risk assessment presented here provides a generic approach to assist city managers through an enhanced understanding of the relative levels of capital endowment across the city vis-à-vis relative levels of exposure to climate-related hazards over time.

Data-Driven Decision Making in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A City of Cape Town Case Study

In the event of a crisis, such as COVID-19, the decisions and subsequent actions taken by the local government are one of the primary sources of support to the local population. Yet the processes through which these decisions are reached and the data engineering advancements made for and during events are poorly reported. Understanding the capabilities and constraints in which city officials operate is essential for impactful academic research alongside global city comparison and discussion on best practices in reaching optimal and data-informed decisions. This is especially pertinent for the global South, where informality in housing and the economy presents further challenges to appropriate resource distribution in a crisis. Here, we present insights into the City of Cape Town’s data-driven response and subsequent data engineering and analytical developments throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This is based upon a review of internal documentation including a close-out report which summarised semi-structured interviews with staff involved in the data work stream. The paper reports on the deliverables produced during 2020 by the data work stream and outlines specific challenges the city faced and its data-informed response in the areas of (1) quantifying costs for COVID-19 initiatives, (2) dealing with a surge in fatalities, (3) guiding scarce public resources to respond to an evolving crisis, and (4) data sharing. We demonstrate the real-term value of incorporating data into the decision-making process and conclude by outlining key factors that cities and researchers must consider as a part of the usual business to effectively assist their populations during times of stress and crisis.

Improving Non-Motorized Transportation Provision in a Socially Inclusive Way—the Case of Cape Town

Walking is the most important mode of transport in the “Global South. ” Depending on the location, the mode accounts for between 33 and 90% of trips. Despite its importance and the notion that walking is available to all, there are vast parts of the population that cannot use the mode, as infrastructure is not conducive. The gender and ability neutral approach to infrastructure provision ignores the needs of up to 75% of inhabitants, leading to isolation and the inability to access services. This paper describes the results of a desktop study that uses various types of literature and secondary data sources to conduct a qualitative assessment of the inclusivity of non-motorized transport and vulnerable population groups (women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities) in its planning and implementation approach, rather than actual implementations. Cape Town is used as a case study city. Results were verified by local experts. Gender neutral planning and roll out of infrastructure has been slow and there is no evidence at all that women, children, and the elderly are considered in the “Global South” context. Regarding people with disabilities, there has been some progress. Tactile paving and drop curbs are occasionally included. However, due to a lack of training of contractors and personnel that audits implementation projects, the quality of infrastructure for people with disabilities is poor. In the case of Cape Town, the qualitative scores are a mere two credits out of a maximum of 75 credits regarding the non-motorized transport, gender and social inclusion in transportation planning and practice. The authors suspect that scores in many African cities will be even lower. As with many other cities in the “Global South,” and more specifically in Africa, Cape Town needs to change its management structure, break down the silos between departments, embrace the input of representatives of vulnerable groups during infrastructure design and implementation and, more importantly, increase the budget for non-motorized transport. There is also a clear need for improved training for contractors and city infrastructure auditors, as implemented infrastructure is often substandard. The study resulted in the development of a hierarchical framework.

Tourism Competitiveness and Sustainability Indicators in the Context of Surf Tourism: The Case of Cape Town

Sport tourism has experienced considerable growth in the last decades, either from the sport events perspective or considering an active sport tourism approach. Therefore, some emergent market niches like surf tourism have been developed in numerous coastal destinations to attract sustainability-sensitive tourists due to the ongoing environmental challenges and the socio-economic crisis. Cape Town is positioned in a prominent place in terms of competitiveness, with a considerable variety of beaches and surf spots facing multiple issues. The aim of this study is to try to identify the most competitive beaches and subdistricts in terms of sustainability and to suggest criteria for surf-tourism-related indicators to obtain an overview about this space, using weighting indicators, and applying geography and political economy lenses. The results reveal that Strand, Table View, and Surfers’ Corner are the most competitive beaches. Additionally, beaches located in some underprivileged areas such as Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha are potentially interesting from a socio-economic development point of view, although they show a lack of accommodation infrastructures. These results seem to indicate that those areas should be closely monitored, and destination managers should focus their attention and finance there to obtain a more sustainable surf tourism development.

Competitive factors between local and foreign national small business retailers in South Africa: The case of Cape Town’s Townships

This paper is based on the study that sought to identify the core competitive factors that differentiate foreign national small business retailers from local South African small business retailers in the way they operate their small retailing businesses. Primary research was conducted in two of Cape Town’s (South Africa) townships, Delft and Eindhoven. The population of the study comprised two groups, namely, South African and foreign national small business retailers operating grocery retailer stores. The first group consisted of 55 South African small business retailers while the second group consisted of 75 migrant small business retailers. A random sample was targeted from each group and the quantitative research methodology was used in this study using a structured questionnaire with close-ended questions. The results showed growth of foreign national retailers and decline in the number of the local retailers in the two townships. The study showed that migrant retailers have a competitive edge over local retailers. The study also revealed that most local traders have a lower level of education compared to their migrant trader counterparts. Furthermore, the study revealed that most of local small business retailers have never had a business finance mentor in their entire trading life. The study revealed that there is a need for a targeted funding model for potential and current local small business retailers. The study proposes a three-stage business intervention model to assist South African small business retailers to become more competitive in township retailing environments.

Development of a method for estimating product-specific leakage propensity and its inclusion into the life cycle management of plastic products

The global agenda to address increasing accumulation of plastic in the marine environment is challenging key decision-makers to develop grounded responses. Current life cycle assessment approaches are unable to adequately quantify the environmental damage associated with accumulation in the natural environment, presenting a critical challenge for the life cycle management of plastic products. This paper investigates the feasibility and potential influence of using leakage rates as a proxy indicator to inform the life cycle management of plastic products. A method is proposed for the quantification of leakage rates which utilises results from beach accumulation rate surveys coupled with sales data as a proxy for waste generation. It is demonstrated for the case of Cape Town, South Africa, for selected plastic products. Through interviews with key value-chain actors in South Africa, the potential influence of providing such specific knowledge on current approaches to plastic product life cycle management is investigated. The developed leakage rates demonstrate that vastly different leakage rates exist for different types of products. In particular, plastic products associated with food consumed on-the-go were found to be highly prone to leakage. In South Africa, value-chain actors are taking a more active role in plastic pollution mitigation primarily through widespread adoption of design for recycling in packaging strategies and investment in downstream recycling activities. However, the lack of reliable information regarding plastic flows is still a constraint, resulting in a multitude of approaches for strategy development particularly when it comes to the prioritisation of products for intervention. This has the potential to result in ineffective strategies due to the inadvertent prioritisation of products which are not major contributors to marine pollution. The adoption of leakage rates as a proxy indicator for potential marine environmental impacts takes a step towards addressing a critical limitation of life cycle assessment, enabling the consideration of leakage into the marine environment during product life cycle management. Furthermore, product-specific leakage rates have the potential to provide guidance for the development of targeted strategies to address plastic pollution.

Cape Town’s “Day Zero” Drought: Notes on a Future History of Urban Dwelling

Taking the events of Cape Town’s “Day Zero” drought as a case study, this article examines the politics and poetics of water in the Anthropocene and the implications of Anthropogenic climate change for urban life. It argues that rather than being understood as an inert resource, fresh drinking water is a complex object constructed at the intersection between natural systems; cultural imaginaries; and social, political, and economic interests. The extraordinary events of Day Zero raised the specter of Mad Max–style water wars. They also led to the development of new forms of solidarity, with water acting as a social leveler. The article argues that events in Cape Town open a window onto the future, to the extent that they tell us something about what happens when the added stresses of climate change are mapped onto already-contested social and political situations. They also underline the precarious nature of many of our urban arrangements. This sense of the precarious is likely to extend beyond the case of Cape Town and to be an abiding feature of urban life as we journey deeper into the Anthropocene/Capitalocene.

Geographical Modelling of Transit Deserts in Cape Town

The World Bank calculated South Africa’s 2018 Gini Coefficient to be 0.63, which made it the world’s most unequal country. Such inequality is perpetuated by land-use patterns still influenced by the apartheid past. The resulting urban form necessitates long travel distances, often relying on fragmented transit modes, each with their own geographical and temporal constraints. This study applies work on transit deserts in cities in the global north to Cape Town, aiming to assess the methodological transferability to the global south, and generating case study results. In the Cape Town case, the study first analyses transit deserts based on formal public transport supply (bus rapid transit, traditional bus and train), identifying that ten out of 18 traffic analysis zones were classified as transit gaps (some unserved demand), while three of these zones qualified as transit deserts (significant undersupply). Like its U.S. counterparts, excess supply is found near Cape Town’s city centre. In Cape Town, the transit gaps/deserts are partly filled by unscheduled minibus-taxis. When this informal public transport service is added, the transit deserts disappear; however, half of the transport analysis zones still qualify as having transit gaps. It is, therefore, concluded that informal public transit in Cape Town reduces the transit gap, but does not eliminate it.

Lessons Learned from Applying an Integrated Land Use Transport Planning Model to Address Issues of Social and Economic Exclusion of Marginalised Groups: The Case of Cape Town, South Africa

The Group Areas Act of 1950 has resulted in post-apartheid South African cities being characterised by spatial patterns with limited access to social and economic opportunities for the black and coloured population. Typically, high-density low-income housing is located peripherally, while low density high-income housing is located in accessible central areas. With increased rural-to-urban migration, the demand for formal housing has historically surpassed supply, which has increased the growth of informal settlements. Current discourse within South African land use policy suggests that in-situ upgrading of informal housing is a viable response to integrate informal settlements into the formal city. In parallel, it is proposed that new low-income residential areas and employment-generating land uses should be located along transport corridors to improve access to transport, its infrastructure and the opportunities it provides for previously marginalised groups. This study uses Cape Town as a case city to explore two land-use driven development strategies directed at informal settlements and low-income housing. A dynamic land use transport model based on a cellular automata land use model and a four-stage transport model was used to simulate land use and transport changes. Specifically, in-situ upgrading of informal settlements and strategically locating new low-income residential and employment generating land uses along transport corridors were considered. The results from the analysis suggest that in-situ upgrading is a viable option only if new informal settlements are in areas with easy access to economic centres. With regards to low-income housing, targeted interventions aimed at ‘unlocking’ low-income housing activities along transport corridors were found to be useful. However, it was also observed that middle-income residential development and employment generating activities were also attracted to the same corridors, thus, resulting in mixed land uses, which is beneficial but can potentially result in rental bids between low and middle-income earners thus displacing low-income earners away from these areas.

Conceptualising a GIS-based risk quantification framework for fire spread in informal settlements: A Cape Town case study

Informal settlements are home to approximately one billion people globally and are growing due to rapid urbanisation in less economically developed countries. Their dense layouts, often combined with light, combustible building materials make them highly vulnerable to fires. In some cases fires have spread through hundreds or thousands of homes in a single fire, rendering the inhabitants homeless. Tackling this issue requires a sound understanding of the many spatial factors which can contribute to fire spread between individual dwellings and into the wider settlement. This paper presents initial methods for assessing and quantifying fire risk in informal settlements due to a variety of spatial factors in the case of Cape Town, South Africa – a city which has a notable history of devastating informal settlement fires. GIS techniques were used to obtain data to build a model for the quantification of risk imposed by the settlement layout with respect to three key metrics; dwelling spacing, edge density and critical patch size. The results of the risk model and data of past fires suggest that the settlement layout is a critical factor in determining the ability of large fires to establish within a settlement. A framework for additional infrastructural and environmental risk is also presented, identifying the need for a wide-ranging interdisciplinary approach to the problem of urban fires.

Applying the Institutional Theory at the Level of Halal Consumers: The Case of Cape Town in South Africa

ABSTRACTThe institutional theory, especially at an individual level, has not been conducted on halal consumers in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree to which halal consumers who have higher institutional pressures are more expected to purchase halal food products. This study draws upon institutional theory to present empirical evidence that institutional factors may show a significant effect on halal consumer’s purchase intention and buying behavior toward purchasing halal food products. A sample of 298 halal consumers in South Africa was selected. Data samples were collected via self-administrated questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test study hypotheses. The study showed that all institutional factors have a direct effect on halal consumer’s intention and indirect effect on buying behavior. Based on the results, normative pressures had a high significant effect among institutional pressures, followed by other factors such as mimetic and coercive pressures, respectively. This study is first of the uncommon studies examining halal consumers’ purchase intention and buying behavior in a non-Muslim country, employing the institutional theory in the context of halal food consumption.

‘Equality on the sea’

In this paper, I examine LGBTQ tourism discourse about Cape Town, South Africa, which is often declared the 'gay capital of Africa'. The paper considers the implications of such claims and how, in the specific case of Cape Town, apparently playful rhetorics obscure deep-seated inequalities under the guise of visibility, equality and globality. Using a multimodal critical discourse analysis informed by queer theory, my paper examines the recurrent linguistic and visual production of these rhetorics in a range of LGBTQ tourism marketing materials, before focusing on the website of one key agent: Out2Africa. Ultimately, I demonstrate how, contrary to the superficially progressive and cosmopolitan discourses of LGBTQ tourism, equality is increasingly represented in consumer media as an individual attainment typified by privileged mobility rather than any true social condition. Under the sway of neoliberal capitalism, mobility is a commodity, identity, and metonym for pride, and equality becomes a slogan.

Watch this space! A Visual Essay on vacant land in Cape Town

Vacant land has recently mostly attracted interest for its ecological and social importance, or its planning possibilities. In this paper, we investigate vacant land in a fast-growing city in an emerging country, namely Cape Town in South Africa. In so doing, we are also pleading for vacant land to be taken seriously as a theoretical notion. When investigating urban fragmentation, we need to examine what lies (and happens) between the urban splinters. We therefore use the Cape Town case as a lens to propose a working definition of vacant land (as space out of place that disrupts the urban fabric and its logic) and visual methods with which to approach it.

Mitigating the impact of the expected increase in the population, economy and urban footprint in Cities of the South on greenhouse gas emissions: The case of Cape Town

Abstract The paper aims to demonstrate the potential of structuring the future growth of Cities of the South to reduce the expected growth in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from significant growth in urban population, economy, urban spatial footprint, and hence motorised travel. A situation that cannot be redressed by the typical responses of promoting non-motorised and public transport use because Cities of the South already display high levels of NMT and PT. The paper applies the findings of research aimed at determining whether increasing accessibility always increases utility to inform the planned location of projected economic and population growth for Cape Town. Alternative land use structures are devised in which future population growth (i.e. housing and community facilities) and related work opportunities are allocated in an attempt to minimise motorised travel but yet achieve “sufficient” accessibility for four income groups. The City of Cape Town has modelled the effect of applying a TOD urban land use and transport system in 2032. The paper allocates the changes in trip making between 2013 and 2032 in support of the concept of sufficient accessibility. This shows a significant reduction in motorised travel and greenhouse gas emissions when compared to the TOD approach.

Tourist Activity and Destination Brand Perception: The Case of Cape Town, South Africa

A respondent-completed questionnaire in Cape Town, South Africa was used to check how the activities that tourists enjoyed in Cape Town relate to how they perceive this destination using brand descriptive variables (brand essence, brand image and brand loyalty). 200 questionnaires were received for bivariate and multivariate analyses. This study finds that although tourists found most activities in Cape Town enjoyable; nature and outdoor, food and wine, and shopping enjoyment have more impact in determining the general experience satisfaction of tourists, than beach, and surprisingly, history and cultural activities. Nonetheless, tourists generally perceive Cape Town quite positively. From analyses, this study strongly suggests that the brand position statement for Cape Town should revolve around unique and diverse tourists' attractions in Cape Town, and the memorable experience with which tourists go home from Cape Town. The brand position statement should be linked to Cape Town tourism integrated marketing communications. This study can assist tourism business owners in Cape Town to evaluate and improve tourism offerings to meet the expectations of visitors, contributing to visitors forming a positive perception towards Cape Town. The findings have implications for similar destinations in the developing economies.

Managing invasive species in cities: A framework from Cape Town, South Africa

Invasive non-native species are often more prevalent in cities than in rural areas because of numerous environmental disturbances and higher propagule pressure. Attempts to manage invasive species in cities are often controversial because of the diversity of stakeholder views. Until now, however, environmental managers in cities have managed invasive species using approaches and paradigms developed for a rural context, despite the radically different socio-environmental conditions that prevail in cities. We examine the case of Cape Town, South Africa, a rapidly growing metropolitan centre within a global biodiversity hotspot and a developing country, to underline the considerable challenges and complexities of managing invasive species in cities. We argue that traditional management approaches need to be supplemented by consideration of stakeholder views and the social consequences of management actions. We present a framework for selecting appropriate goals for the management of invasive species, ranging from eradication to acceptance.

A systems approach to urban water services in the context of integrated energy and water planning: A City of Cape Town case study

The City of Cape Town derives the bulk of its present water supply from surface water resources and is the central water service authority for metropolitan consumers. The City is also a provider of bulk water to neighbouring municipalities. An exploration of the energy consumption for water and sanitation services for the City of Cape Town was conducted with an emphasis on water supply augmentation options for the near future (2011-2030). A systems analysis of municipal urban water services was undertaken to examine the energy requirements of supply alternatives and the efficacy of the alternatives in respect of supply availability and reliability. This was achieved using scenario based analysis incorporating a simple additive value function, to obtain a basic performance score, to rank alternatives and facilitate a quantitative comparison. Utilising the Water Evaluation and Planning hydrological modelling tool, a model for urban water services was developed for the City and used to conduct scenario analyses for a representative portfolio of previously identified options. Within the scope of the research objectives, the scenario analyses examines the direct energy consumption for the provision of water services for the City as influenced by external factors such as population growth, surface water runoff variability, available alternatives and the policies that are adopted which ultimately determine the future planning. It is contended that the modelling process presented here integrates energy and water planning for an assessment of water and energy resources required for future growth, and the optimal measures that could be pursued to reconcile the demand for water and the concomitant energy requirements.