Town planning schemes: Are they appropriate within the context of a new democracy?

Abstract

Within the corridors of power there has been a tendency to discard all associated with the past, and to replace it with newly drafted legislation to suit the new era we find ourselves in. This tendency is clearly understood, bearing in mind the dismal manner in which our cities are structured as we move into a post-apartheid society. That we need to reconfigure and repair the urban fabric of our cities, so that they can function efficiently and in the interest of all citizens is undisputed. However, whether this will be achieved by rewriting legislation relating to town planning is a debatable point, particularly the Town Planning Ordinances and their accompanying Town planning schemes.