Our vision:
Building a region known for its innovative learning culture, thriving economy, green energy production and sustainable environment

What is the Eastern Seaboard Regional Spatial Development Framework?

The Eastern Seaboard Development Initiative serves as a starting point to unlock the economic potential of the region within the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. As part of the first steps to develop the Eastern Seaboard, which is located between Coffee Bay in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in the south and Scottburgh in UMdoni Local Municipality in the north, a Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF) has to be developed. A RSDF is a legislative mechanism that seeks to address the numerous developmental challenges of a region.

The Eastern Seaboard RSDF will focus on four districts:

The Eastern Seaboard RSDF
will focus on:

The Regional Spatial Development
Framework (RSDF) consists of six phases:

Phase 1: Inception

Phase 1 involves the development of the Inception Report. The report communicates the purpose of the project to obtain buy-in from relevant government structures and stakeholders including the Department of Human Settlements (DHS) and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).

Phase 2: Status Quo Research and Analysis Report

Phase 2 of the project involves Status Quo Analysis Report. It involves an analysis of the legislative and policy context and the development of a conceptual vision for the Eastern Seaboard RSDF. This is an opportunity to analyse various policies and legislation to extract strategic and spatial direction that will guide the development of the RSDF and subsequently the entire Eastern Seaboard Development.

Current Phase
Phase 3: Regional Situational Analysis and Synthesis

Phase 3 of the project involves a multidisciplinary situational analysis of the various components forming part of the RSDF. This process will be followed by a synthesis exercise of the information generated in the regional situational analysis through spatial-based approach.

Phase 4: Draft ESRSDF Spatial Proposal and Implementation Framework

Phase 4 of the project involves the drafting of the spatial proposals informed by the African Smart City vision, spatial objectives and principles, as well as the regional situational synthesis. An implementation framework will also be developed in this phase. This will include the development of the Capital Expenditure Framework that identifies priorities, institutional arrangements and implementation requirements.

Phase 5: Public Participation and 2nd Draft ESRSDF

This phase involves public participation and the revision of the draft ESRSDF.

During this phase, the following ESRSDF components will be implemented:

  • Marketing and branding strategy, and
  • The Skills Transfer Plan.

Public participation workshops will be conducted using our design-led thinking as a strategy for innovation.
By using the design-led thinking approach as part of our strategy we have been able to innovate not only in the design outcomes, but also adjust our thinking process throughout this journey.

The workshops will give the community and all relevant stakeholders an opportunity to provide comments on the draft ESRSDF and its Implementation Framework.

Phase 6: ESRSDF Finalisation and Approval

Phase 6 involves refining, updating and finalising the ESRSDF and the submission of the final ESRSDF to the Minister of National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development for promulgation in the National Gazette. A complete set of all documents and records generated during the project will be submitted. A close-out report will be developed containing a summary of the project and an analysis of the challenges encountered as well as lessons learnt.

Latest News