Policy Background
In 1996 the Gauteng Province prepared a provincial development plan known as the Gauteng Spatial Development Framework (GSDF). The Plan aims to guide the growth and development in accordance with the principles of the Development Facilitations Act (DFA) and the Reconstruction and Development Act (RDP).
Click to download:
Unfortunately, the Gauteng Spatial Development Framework is unavailable for download at present.
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| Informal Trading in Bekkersdal |
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Breaking New Ground Framework In 2005, the Minister of Housing in 2005 prepared the Breaking New Ground Framework emphasizing the need to move away from housing only, and to approach the more holistic development of human settlements, including the provision of social and economic infrastructure. In technical terms, this holistic approach means ensuring:
- Integrated planning and development
- Rationalising land use
- Managing open space and densifying in-fills
- Well-structured road networks and effective local transport
- Adequate and decent houses
- Adequate social infrastructure
- Redeveloping/upgrading dilapidated infrastructure
- Preserving local characteristics
- Enhancing townscapes
In 2004, Bekkersdal was chosen as one of the sites that required regeneration.
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| Houses in Bekkersdal |
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Click to download:  Breaking New Ground Framework (PDF -150 KB)
The Broad Policy guidelines adopted pertinent to Urban Regeneration are as follows:
- To contain Urban Sprawl, encourage infill and densification
- To enhance transportation
- To maximise the economic energy generated by the transport routes while integrating lower income areas into the functioning of central urban area.
- To integrate low income areas by promoting transportation and land use linkages
- To integrate residential and economic development
- To uplift areas of economic decline
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West Rand Urban Regeneration Strategy
The Bekkersdal Renewal Project is set within the context of the West Rand Urban Regeneration Strategy (WRURS) [S. The WRURS report Study Area covered the entire West Rand area. Bekkersdal falls within this area and was therefore part of the study and proposals made by the WRURS report.
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| Construction in Bekkersdal |
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The WRURS identified 4 primary structural elements of the West Rand District: Mining, Tourism, Urban Core and Agriculture. This report proposed a number of Spatial Drivers to spearhead the regeneration of these primary structuring elements. The following 2 Spatial Drivers are relevant to Bekkersdal:
Urban Agricultural Driver:
The primary purpose of this Driver is to function as an integration tool. It aims to functionally integrate the segregated and fragmented settlement pattern found between the towns of Venterspost, Bekkersdal, Westonaria, Simunye, Hillshaven, Waterskop and Glenharvie. This driver will aim to develop urban agriculture in this region and use this to bind these towns into a functional entity. Using urban agriculture as an economic base, these isolated settlements will be able to tap into the urban and surrounding commercial agricultural market. The following is envisaged:
- Intensive urban agricultural uses
- Mixed land uses supporting urban agriculture
- The provision of good quality produce to adjacent urban areas
- The construction of limited numbers of formal housing in satellite/ rural towns related to urban agriculture needs only
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| Satellite/ Rural Town Driver:
This driver will support the Urban Agriculture Driver. The towns of Venterspost, Bekkersdal, Westonaria, Simunye, Hillshaven, Wagterskop and Glenharvie will be satellite/rural towns within an Urban Agricultural setting. These towns will need to be developed in a manner that will enable them to function as a critical support framework for the envisaged urban agriculture economy. These towns should include training facilities, housing, businesses and transportation systems that support the establishment of urban agriculture in this region of the West Rand.
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Click to download:
The Bekkersdal Local Development Framework
The Bekkersdal Local Development Framework (LDF) is a comprehensive strategic plan, commissioned by the Gauteng Department of Housing in 2004. The LDF included a detailed study of Bekkersdal and proposed development strategies and spatial solutions for the renewal of Bekkersdal.
The Bekkersdal Local Development Framework guides the renewal of Bekkersdal in a sustainable manner, as proposed in the West Rand Urban Renewal Strategy (WRURS) report.
Unfortunately, this document is unavailable for download at present.
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| Spaza shop in Bekkersdal |
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Bekkersdal Development Concept for 2010
The Bekkersdal Development Concept is a seven-year programme until 2010, that aims to transform Bekkersdal into a sustainable and liveable agricultural community by the year 2010.
The key turning point for Bekkersdal will be the relocation of the informal settlements and replacing the area on which these settlements are located presently, with urban agriculture. This will have positive spin-off effects for Bekkerdal: to ensure that the social amenities will be adequate for the needs of the population of Bekkersdal; to ensure that large parts of the area will become available for alternative, formal uses.
Unfortunately, this document is unavailable for download at present.
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| New paved walkways in Bekkersdal |
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[ Return to Bekkersdal Renewal Project page ]
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