Research Development

The Department of Geographical Sciences strongly supports academic research. Simultaneously community service and research into community problems, that provide solutions to such problems are also encouraged. It is through all these activities that the true value of the subject is acknowledged. Over the next four years (2000-2003) the Department will engage in numerous non-degree research projects in the fields of tourism development, urban and rural development, and GIS related projects. The aim would be to involve students in the research projects thus enabling them to acquire the capacity to develop research. The Department encourages inter- departmental/disciplinary and institutional cooperation.
(See respective research work of staff members)

VUDEC

Fanie Odendaal

Academic:

• MA (Geography)- University of Pretoria (1990). Title: A Strategy to supply sport and recreation facilities to the white residents of Alberton.
• DPhil (Geography) - University of Pretoria (1994). Title: A universal model as provisional strategy for sport- and recreation activities by local authorities.

Papers Presented:

• The Moreletta stream trail as recreation resource (Transkei University). 1983.
• Determining the future need for sport- and recreation activities (UPE). 1990.
• The realising of participation determinants regarding sport- and recreation (PU for CHE). 1991.
• A universal model as a provisional strategy for sport- and recreation activities by local authorities (Durban - Westville). 1995.
• Communities in SA and the development of an acceptable environment (Vista - Unisa). 1998.
• Sustainable settlement development in South Africa: Coming to terms with the rest of the world (P E Technikon). 2000.

• OBE - workshop. Principles and classroom practices of OBE & Development of OBE learning material (1-4 June 1998).
• Strategic meeting on Human Resource Development at the National Population Unit (6 March 1998).
• Contributed to an intersectoral forum on the programme of action of ICPD+5. Five year review of the Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (18 January 1999).
• NQF Workshop presented by Thomas Campher. The need for restructuring education and training in South Africa. Writing of unit standards and whole qualifications (24-26 June 1999).

Articles:

• A model for future sport- and recreation provision. (Parks and Recreation Management, Volume 51-Nr2, April/May 1993, p18-20).
• The auditing of sport- and recreation activities. (Vista Occasional Papers, Vol 3 No 1 October 1994).

Conference Proceedings:

• Proceedings of the International Best of Both Worlds Conference.1998: Pretoria. Communities in SA and the development of an acceptable environment.

Research Reports:

• 1991: Alberton Open Space Study: An Investigation into the Sport and Recreational Facilities in Alberton until the year 2000. Alberton City Council, Alberton (In Afrikaans) (With M.L. Hugo, W. Van Riet, P.G. Kok & G. Zaayman).
• 1992: Provision of Leisure Resources and Services to the Community of Randburg. Part 2. Reconciling Supply and Demand. (GV 01/92 (ISBN 0-86979-842-1). At request of the Municipality of Randburg. Department of Geography contract research project in collaboration with the Institute of Leisure Studies, Potchefstroom University of CHE. (In Afrikaans) (Project leader M.L. Hugo; co-leader P.S. Hattingh; researchers S.S.C. Odendaal and N.H. de Wet).
• 1993: Strategic Plan for Recreation in Randburg. At the request of the Municipality of Randburg. Department of Geography contract research project. (With P.S. Hattingh, M.L.Hugo and the Institute for Leisure Studies, Potchefstroom University of CHE).
• 1997: Procedures for the approval, implementation and evaluation of courses and programmes with reference to the Department of Geographical Sciences . Vista Quality Assurance research report on programme development: Group 2. R. Coetzee, M.M. Dannhauser and S.S.C. Odendaal.
• 1997: VUDEC Quality Assurance Report. Vista Quality Assurance research report. Input on Programme Development: Group 2: R. Coetzee, M.M. Dannhauser and S.S.C. Odendaal.

Elna van Niekerk

Papers Presented:

• The influence of dolomite on town planning with special reference to Carletonville (Afrikaans) - Geography Conference at Rhodes University 1987

Research:

• Development of OBE learning material
• Quality assurance for programme development
• Cave research with CROSA (Cave Research Organization of South Africa) and SASA (South African Speleological Association)

Ena Dannhauser

Research:

• Programme Development

Retha Coetzee

Research:

• Programme development in tourism

Kevin Mearns

Published Articles:

• 1997: Mearns, K.F., J. M. Meeuwis & P.J. Wolfaardt, 1996: Tourist carrying capacity in he Kruger National Park. South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation ,19, 1&2, 71-82.

Conference Papers:

• 1996: Tourism in the Kruger National Park. South African Geographical Student Conference, (University of the North-West) September 1996.
• 1997: Tourist use-levels in the Kruger National Park. International Conference on Tourism and the Environment, (PU for CHE) January 1997.
• 1998: Community development the key to sustainable environmental education - Best of both worlds international conference - (UNISA and Vista University) March 1998.
• 1998: Geographical Information Systems: An important tool for the formalization of informal settlements - GISDECO - 4th Seminar on GIS and Developing Countries - (University of Pretoria and University of Utrecht) October 1998.

Unpublished Reports:

• Mearns, K.F. 1997: The spatial and temporal variations of tourists in the Kruger National Park. Unpublished M.Sc. thesis, Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg.
• Mearns, K.F. 1996. Bird survey of Homestead Dam (Benoni) (subsection of Environmental Impact Assessment Report. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1996. Eradication plan for exotic and invader plant species on Renosterfontein 115IR (Rust-de-Winter District). Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1996. Identification of future mining projects to be undertaken in a section of the Northern Province (Section of the development strategy of the Northern Province). Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1996. Landuse proposal for Leeupan wetland area (Benoni). Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1996. Status Quo Investigation of the Holfontein Toxic Landfill Site (Eastern Gauteng). Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1996. Vegetation survey for Environmental Impact Assessment Report on proposed 5.5 kilometre sewer extension (Eastern Gauteng). Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1997. Environmental Management Plan Programme Report Audit-Grootvlei Gold Mine. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1997. Environmental Management Plan Programme Report Audit-East Rand Propriety Mine. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1997. Environmental Management Plan Programme Report Audit-Benoni Gold Mine. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1997. Environmental Management Plan Programme Report Audit-Blyvooruitzicht Gold Mine. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1997. Environmental Management Plan Programme Report Audit-Doornfontein Gold Mine. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1997. Environmental Risk Assessment -Confidential Report. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1997. Environmental Scan of Etwatwa Extension 31 (Albertina Sisulu). Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1997. Preliminary investigation into the possibility of formalising Harry Gwala Informal Township (Benoni). Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1997. Preliminary Transport Risk Assessment - Sasol Transport Routes. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. & M.A. Mearns 1997. Social scan of the community of Albertina Sisulu Township, Etwatwa- Benoni. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1997. Vegetation and photographic survey of Dorstfontein Open Cast Mine as part of EMPR. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F., G. Wilson & M.A. Mearns 1998. Ekaluka Scoping report: Mpumalanga. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. & M.A. Pienaar 1998. Investigation of the tourism potential of the Schurweberg-Rantesig region -Centurion City Council. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. 1998. Scoping Etwatwa extention 21 report: Benoni. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F.& G. Wilson 1998. Initial Environmental Assessment of the Proposed Overhead Power Line Supply to Dorstfontein Colliery. Unpublished research report
• Mearns, K.F. & G. Wilson 1998. Initial Environmental Assessment of the Proposed Developments of Thubelihle Civil Engineering Services. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F., G. Wilson, M.A. Mearns & M.A. Pienaar 1998. Business plan-Kgonye Trust. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F., G. Wilson, B. Laker & M.A. Mearns 1998. Valuation of Land for Tirelo Seshaba Project. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F. & M.A. Mearns 1998. Social Needs Analysis of the Ekaluka Community. Unpublished research report.
• Mearns, K.F., M.A. Mearns & M.A. Pienaar 1998. Strategic Planning Document for the Ekaluka Project. Unpublished research report.

Mamelodi

Recently Completed Departmental Projects:

• Water pollution and community perceptions in Mamelodi, 2000. Report for the Water Research Council, project k/717/0/1, pp. 34. Inter-institutional project between Department of Geographical Sciences Mamelodi campus and Department of Chemistry, Technikon Northern Gauteng.

Recently Completed Departmental Projects:

• Evaluating perceptions and understanding of Masakhane in Pretoria and Bloemfontein. Inter-institutional project between Vista Department of Geographical Sciences (Mamelodi and Bloemfontein campuses) and Department of Geography, University of the Free State.

Current Departmental Projects:

• Youth report on the state of the environment in the Greater Pretoria Metropolitan (GPM) Area. Partnership between Vista University, GPM and various schools.

Ronnie Donaldson

Articles in Refereed Journals:

• Hoffman, L.C; Donaldson, S.E. & J.F Prinsloo. 1995. Consumer perspectives on the African Sharptooth Catfish in rural and urban areas of the Northern Province. DEVELOPMENT SOUTHERN AFRICA, Vol. 12, No. 5: 725-732.
• Donaldson, S.E. 1996. The separate amenities legacy: perceptions on recreation and future planning in the Northern Province, South Africa. DEVELOPMENT SOUTHERN AFRICA, Vol. 13, No. 6: 871-879.
• Kotze, N.J. & Donaldson, S.E. 1996. Desegregation in Pietersburg after the repeal of the Group Areas Act. DEVELOPMENT SOUTHERN AFRICA, Vol. 13, No. 6: 119-127.
• Kotze, N.J. & Donaldson, S.E. 1998. Residential desegregation in two South African cities: a comparative study of Bloemfontein and Pietersburg. URBAN STUDIES, Vol. 35, No. 3: 467-477.
• Donaldson, S.E. & Van der Merwe, I.J. 1998. Social space and racial identity in colonial Pietersburg (1886-1910). HISTORIA, Vol. 43, No. 1: 29-40.
• Donaldson, S.E. & Van der Merwe, I.J. 1999. Deracialisation of urban business space: the case of street traders in Pietersburg. ACTA ACADEMICA, Vol. 31, No. 1: 140-166.
• Donaldson, S.E. & Van der Merwe, I.J. 1999. Urban transformation and social change in Pietersburg during transition. SOCIETY IN TRANSITION, Vol. 30, No. 1: 69-83.
• Donaldson, S.E; Kwaw, I; Mahapha, S; Ramudzuli, R.1999. A reality check of four local government authorities in the Northern Province. POLITEIA, Vol. 18, No. 2: 93-112.
• Donaldson, S.E. & Van der Merwe, I.J. 1999. Residential desegregation and the property market in Pietersburg. URBAN FORUM, Vol. 2: (forthcoming).
• Donaldson, S.E. & Van der Merwe, I.J. 2000. Urban restructuring outcomes during transition: a model for South African urban development in the 21st century? AFRICA INSIGHT (forthcoming).

Chapters in Edited Volumes:

• Donaldson, S.E. & Kotze, N.J. 1994. Transformation in the South African apartheid city - residential desegregation in Pietersburg: a case study (pp 267-277). In Braun, G.O. (Ed.) MANAGING AND MARKETING OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND URBAN LIFE. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer Verlag.
• Donaldson, S.E. 1995. Urban black home ownership patterns in the Northern Province, South Africa (pp 189-199). In Davies, R.J. (Ed.) CONTEMPORARY CITY STRUCTURING: INTERNATIONAL GEOGRAPHICAL INSIGHTS. Cape Town: Federal Business Communications Ltd.
• Botha, J.H. & Donaldson, S.E. 1998. Viewing apartheid planning from above: a spot imagery application to contemporary restructuring in an urban area of South Africa(pp501-508). RSS98: DEVELOPING INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS. Greenwich: Remote Sensing Society.
• Donaldson, S.E. & Van der Merwe, I.J. 1999. Restructuring of informal business space in Pietersburg, South Africa (pp99-110). In A. Aguilar & I Escamilla (Eds.): PROBLEMS OF MEGACITIES: SOCIAL INEQUALITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL RISK AND URBAN GOVERNANCE. Mexico City: UNAM.

Un-refereed Articles:

• Donaldson, S.E. 1992. Kaya Mandi: external linkage of an urban black community (in Afrikaans). GEO-STELL, Vol. 13:1-6.

Electronic Publications:

• Darkey, D; Donaldson, S.E. & Van der Linde, C. 2000. Water pollution and community perceptions in Mamelodi, Pretoria. WISA conference proceedings, CD-ROM.
• Donaldson, S.E. 2000. Spatial change and urban restructuring in Pietersburg during the 1990s. In Spatial Transformation in the Post-Apartheid South Africa, http://ntimpuls.kulak.ac.be/south_africa.

Unpublished Papers:

• Botha, J.H. & Donaldson, S.E. 1999. Using a combination of digital aerial photography and satellite remote sensing to assist contemporary restructuring in an urban area of South Africa.
• Donaldson, S.E. 1999. Investigating household linkages in a dispersed city settlement: the case of Pietersburg and environs.
• Donaldson, S.E. & Van der Merwe, I.J. 1999. Apartheid urban development and transitional restructuring in Pietersburg and environs.
• Donaldson, S.E. 2000. An overview of urban integration and transformation of Seshego during transition.
• Donaldson, S.E. 2000. Making of the 21st century South African city: recognizing globalization patterns.

Work in Progress:

• Marais, JG; Donaldson, S.E. & Botha, J.H. Evaluating perceptions and understanding of Masakhane in Pretoria and Bloemfontein.
• Donaldson, S.E. Towards planning for heritage conservation in an historic Pretoria suburb: contradictions in integrated planning.
• Donaldson, S.E. & Marais, J.G. (Eds.) URBAN AND RURAL LAND REFORM, RESTITUTION AND RESTRUCTURING AFTER APARTHEID.

Presented Papers at Conferences:

• Kaya Mandi: External Linkage of Stellenbosch's Black Community (in Afrikaans). Poster presented at Annual Student Geography Conference held in Port Elizabeth, October 1990.
• Residential Desegregation in Pietersburg. Paper presented at the South African Geographical Conference held in Port Elizabeth, 5-8 July 1993 (with: N.J. Kotze).
• Community Perception on Environmental Degradation and Development: A Case Study of Soetfontein (Lebowa). Poster presented at the National Veld Trust Jubilee Conference held in Pretoria, 1-4 November 1993 (with: J.H.Botha).
• Transformation in the South African Apartheid City - Residential Desegregation in Pietersburg: a Case study. Paper presented at the IGU Commission Conference on Urban Development and Urban Life held in Berlin (Germany), 15-20 August, 1994 (with: N.J. Kotze).
• Outdoor Recreation Participation and Expectation in a Transitional South Africa: a Case for Affirmative Planning. Paper presented at the IGU conference on Environment and Quality of Life in Central Europe: Problems of Transition held in Prague (Czech Republic), 22-26 August 1994.
• A Two Pronged Marketing Strategy for the African Sharptooth Catfish. Paper presented at the 3rd Congress of the Aquaculture Association of South Africa: Aquaculture '94 towards 2000 held at Berg-en-Dal, Kruger National Park 21-23 September, 1994 (with: L.C. Hoffman & J.F. Prinsloo).
• Urban Black Home-Ownership Patterns in the Northern Province, South Africa. Paper presented at the IGU Commission Conference on Urban Development and Urban Life, held in Cape Town, 21-25 August 1995.
• From Spaces of Separation to Spaces of Integration. Paper presented at the University of the North Faculty of Arts Spring Lectures, held in Sovenga, September 1995.
• Place and Racial Identity in Pietersburg During its Origin (1886-1910). Paper presented at the University of the North Faculty of Arts Spring Lectures, held in Sovenga, September 1996.
• The Proposed Development of a Provincial Government Complex in Pietersburg: Planning, Criticism, and Alternatives. Paper presented at the Society of South African Geographers conference in Midrand, July 1997.
• Urban Processes of Business Space in Pietersburg, South Africa. Paper presented at the IGU Commission Conference on Urban Development and Urban Life held in Mexico City, 11-15 August 1997.
• Viewing Apartheid Planning From Above: A Spot Imagery Application to Contemporary Restructuring in an Urban Area of South Africa. Poster presented at the RSS Developing International Connections conference of the Remote Sensing Society, University of Greenwich, 9-11 September 1998. (With: JH Botha) - not attended.
• Urban Restructuring in Pietersburg: Towards a 21st Century South African City. Paper presented at the 95th AAG conference held in Honolulu, Hawaii 23-27 March 1999.
• Questioning Urban Outcomes During Transition: Is there a Model for South African Urban Development in the 21st Century? Paper presented at the Third Biennial International Conference of the Society of South African Geographers held in Windhoek, Namibia 5-9 July 1999.
• Water Pollution and Community Perceptions in Mamelodi, Pretoria. Paper to be presented at the WISA bienial conference, Sun City, 28 May - 1 June 2000. (With D, Darkey; C van der Linde)
• Social change and urban restructuring in Pietersburg, South Africa. Paper to be presented at the Urban Futures conference, Johannesburg, 10-14 July 2000.

Research Projects:

• Urban Black Peoples Outdoor Recreation Patterns in the Northern Province. Department of Geography research project, University of the North. (Project leader: completed 1995).
• Post-apartheid residential structures: desegregation in urban areas of the Northern Province. Department of Geography research project, University of the North. (Project leader: completed 1997).
• Towards sustainable local governance. Understanding and evaluating Masakhane in Mamelodi, Mabopane, Mangaung and Botshabelo. Department of Geographical Sciences, Vista University. (Researcher: started 1999).

Dan Darkey

• Land Reform & Environmental Management

Bloemfontein

Hannes Botha

Conference Papers:

• Community Perception of Environmental Degradation and Development: a case study. Poster- paper presented at National Veldtrust Jubilee Conference held in Pretoria, November 1993, (with SE Donaldson).
• Environmental Degradation Assessment in Rural South Africa: a case stud .. Paper presented at 1st International Geography Conference held in Durban, July 1995.
• Desertification redefined: a new assessment methodology. Paper presented at the IGU MED Conference on Desertification held in Cape Town, 1994.
• Assessing environmental degradation in rural South Africa: a remote sensing solution? Poster- paper presented at the Earth Data Information Systems Conference held in Pretoria, February 1996.
• Vegetation change mapping by remote sensing and GIS as a time-saving device for rural land management in South Africa. Poster-paper presented at the Third International Airborne Remote Sensing Conference held in Copenhagen (Denmark), July 1997.
• Viewing apartheid planning from above: a SPOT imagery application to contemporary restructuring in an urban area of South Africa. Poster-paper presented at the 24th Annual Conference of the Remote Sensing Society held in Chatham (England), September 1998 (with SE Donaldson).
• Urbanization, urban life, the poor, and the environment in the Free State province of south Africa. Paper delivered at the IAIASA99 Conference held in Bloemfontein, September 1999 (with JGL Marais).

Articles in Refereed Journals:

• Botha, J.H., 2000, Remote sensing detection of herbivore habitat changes in the Northern Plains, Kruger National Park, South Africa: a pilot study, SA Journal of Science, Forthcoming.
• Botha, J.H. and PS Fouche, 2000, An assessment of land degradation in the Northern Province from satellite remote sensing and community perception, South African Geographical Journal, Forthcoming.

Chapters in Edited Volumes:

• Botha, J.H. 1994. Desertification redefined: a new assessment methodology, In: Africa, Proceedings of 1994 Spring Lectures, UNIN Press, Sovenga.
• Botha, J.H. 1997. Vegetation change mapping by remote sensing and GIS as a time-saving device for rural land management in South Africa, In: Proceedings of the Third International Airborne Remote Sensing Conference and Exhibition, Erim International, Ann Arbor.
• Botha, J.H. & Donaldson, S.E., 1998, Viewing apartheid planning from above: a SPOT imagery application to contemporary restructuring in an urban area of South Africa, In: Proceedings of the 24th annual Conference of the remote sensing Society, The University of Greenwich, Chatham.

Unrefereed Research Papers:

• Botha, J.H. 1996. Environmental degradation in rural South Africa: a case study. Technical Paper, LMRDP, University of the North, Sovenga.
• Van Nederveen Meerkerk, D., and Botha, J.H., 1997. Land cover classification in two districts of the Northern Province. Occasional Paper 5, LMRDP, University of the North, Sovenga.
• Botha, J.H. 1997. Using GIS and Remote sensing to map habitat changes of the Roan antelope in the Kruger National Park. Research Report for Kruger National Park Scientific Division.

Unpublished Papers:

• Botha, J.H. and S.E. Donaldson, 1999. Using a combination of digital aerial photography and satellite remote sensing to assist contemporary restructuring in an urban area of South Africa.
• Botha, J.H. 2000. Mapping land degradation in rural South Africa using remotely sensed vegetation indices: a case study.

Recent Consultancy Work:

• Using GIS to locate villages in the Northern Province within reach of Fog-water catch screens, 1997.
• Using remote sensing and digital mapping to indicate existing infrastructure on a newly established game reserve in the Northern Province, 1997-98.
• Designing a digital soil erosion model for Nebo, Northern Province using a GIS and photogrammetric techniques.

Research in Progress:

• Marais, J.G.; Donaldson, S.E. and Botha, J.H. Evaluating perceptions and understanding of Masakhane in Pretoria and Bloemfontein.
• Botha, J.H. Providing new perspectives for travel and tourism in developing countries: an internet-based remote sensing and GIS tourism initiative.

Soweto

Liz Block

Papers Presented & Published:

• Block, E.K. 1997: Are the geographical concepts we teach accessible to students in mutilingual, multicultural calsses? A case for making language issues part of our thinking. A selection of papers from the IGU/CGE conference Univ. of Stellenbosch, SA, July 14-16, 1997. Geography Education in Multicultural Societies.

• Research into the language of Science
• Environmental perception

Thea Schoeman

• Research into the use of GIS in the SAPS

Clare Kelso

Papers Published:

• Kelso, C., 1999: Ideology of Mapping in Aparthied South Africa, South African Geographical Journal, 81(1), 15-21.

Welkom

Theuns Duvenhage

• The role of woman, environmental education and sustainable agriculture in Environmental Management

Vernon Baloyi

• Community perceptions on the socio-economic and environmental benefits of the Working For Water Programme: Case Study of the Upper Tugela Catchment-KZN

Port Elizabeth

Vincent Kakembo

• The impact of Pteronia incana invader species on soil properties and erosion in Mugwalana catchment, Peddie District, Eastern Cape