Volume II - The Northern Cape Provincial Spatial Development ...

Van Lindert and Verkoren’s (1997) set of town criteria includes the population profile, the
morphological structure, the economic activities, the service infrastructure and the social
structure. Henderink and Titus (2002) refer to the role of small towns’ rural hinterland, natural
resource base, population density, market accessibility, political economic structures, income
distribution and purchasing power of the population as resources that can be considered in
determining the growth potential of town. In Krige, Schur and Sipel’s (1998) analysis of small
towns in the Free State, two sets of criteria were used: (i) the quantitative criteria included
settlement type, demographic and economic trends, financial and management capacity, as
well as access to services and housing; and (ii) a qualitative set of criteria included the level
of community participation, sense of place, economic potential as well as delivery record on
specific projects.
On the basis of this academic literature study, as well as discussions with specialists in the
field of small town and regional development, it is evident that the growth potential of
individual towns in the Northern Cape province can best be evaluated comprehensively
through a balanced set of multi-dimensional criteria that accounts for the diversity and
complexity of comprehensive rural development and accompanying town growth. In the next
chapter these criteria will be given empirical substance through a set of measurable indicators
and variables in the data matrix developed for this study.
2.2 Relevant policy documents
South Africa in general and the Northern Cape in particular have been experiencing the trends
of declining settlements for many decades already. The causes and factors influencing this
phenomenon have been well documented in section 2.1. In the past authorities and other role
players largely ignored this problem and treated all urban settlements in more or less the same
way in terms of investment support. However, the situation has taken on such proportions that
intervention has become essential. Several central government and Northern Cape provincial
policy documents have explicitly addressed this problem recently.
2.2.1 The National Spatial Development Perspective (NSDP, 2006), issued by the
Presidency of South Africa, indicates a dramatic new approach in future policy directions
with respect to investment and other support for national, regional and town development.
In no country in the world is social and economic development evenly distributed in
geographic space. Spatial disparities are a universal problem affecting all countries. South
13