Contested terrains: Cities and hinterlands in post-apartheid boundary delimitations

In South Africa attempts are being made to address the socio-spatial distortions of the apartheid era through a more equitable distribution of resources, and the re-drawing of municipal geographical boundaries. However, boundaries are not neutral geographic lines. Boundary changes are often associated with a redistribution of political power and resources. The aim of this paper is to analyse the effects of the contemporary territorial and administrative restructuring on urban dynamics in South Africa. More specifically, the focus is on how the process of territorial restructuring impacted on metropolitan areas as well as on secondary cities and their hinterlands. Examining and elucidating the manner in which various social, economic and political forces have manifested themselves in the process of boundary delimitation in a major metropolitan centre as well as adjacent rural areas is a central theme of this paper. There were considerable contestations over the delimitation of new local government boundaries. Affluent metro authorities like that in Durban were opposed to the spatial extension of their boundaries because of the costs of the providing services and infrastructure in the deprived margins. Similarly, there was concern that incorporation of rural areas will result in increased municipal service charges being imposed on these communities. Tensions were heightened between urban and rural regions because traditional leaders believed that their territorial jurisdiction and authority were being undermined. In other parts of the country, the merger of traditionally white and black fragments of secondary cities often resulted in many black locations continuing to be marginalized. There appears to be neither the political will nor the economic capacity to upgrade these zones of marginalized urban communities. While the Municipal Demarcation Board was largely successful in eliminating the political geography of apartheid at a macro- scale, this paper suggests that the greater challenge for government and policy makers is to reduce the socio-spatial and economic inequalities which appears to be still very high and perhaps increasing. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A technique for the determination of areal average rainfall / Une méthode pour la détermination de précipitation moyenne pour une zone donnée

Abstract

A method was developed for allocating an area likely to be shared by a raingauge station. Average areal precipitation was found by weighting the rainfall at the gauging station in terms of the product of distances enclosing it or radiating from it. The method was applied to two real and two hypothetical basins and the results were compared with those obtained by existing techniques.     

Mapping of apple orchards using remote sensing techniques in cold desert of Himachal Pradesh,India

The present study was conducted to map Apple orchards in dry alpine Spiti region of Indian Himalaya using LISS III satellite image. The barren terrain with sparse woody vegetation helped in classification of apple orchards with 91.3 % accuracy. The orchards were found in 154.6 ha of the study area and are anticipated to expand owing to its economic importance.     

A GENERALIZED METHOD OF COMPUTING SECOND DERIVATIVE OF GRAVITY FIELD*

The unsuitability of a particular method of computation of second derivative to varying types of field problems evinces the need of a method by which it may be possible to obtain a wide range of filters. This requirement is achieved by incorporating a mathematical smoothing operator, e^-λρ2, λ and ρ being the smoothing parameter and radial frequency respectively, in the theoretical frequency response of second derivative operation. A few sets of weights for various smoothing parameters, are presented. The analysis of Bouguer gravity anomaly map of Los Angeles Basin, California, U.S.A., is carried out by Elkins's (1951) and Rosenbach's (1953) methods and the sets of weights given in this paper which clearly establishes their filtering equivalence.     

Are people of Indian origin (PIO) “Indian”? A case study of South Africa

A necessary condition for a migration to be considered as a “diaspora” is the upholding of contacts in the land of origin in various forms, real or imaginary, material or cultural. This paper examines whether this is so in the case of Indian South Africans, most of whose ancestors came to the country as indentured labourers between 1860 and 1911. A key contention was that there could be some cultural and emotional factors partly explaining the economic relations and the geography of flows between the South Africans of Indian origin and India. However, this eventually proved to be wrong. This is all the more paradoxical since the “Indian” identity is still very alive in Durban. However, it is highly fragmented, according to the generations, the religions and the socio-economic classes. India is still a key referent, but “transcendentally”: either as a country which has only an abstract existence, which is spoken of, even dreamt of, without ever being visited; or it is visited but considered only as a whole, since the region of one’s ancestors is almost never at the forefront. Furthermore, the vulnerable situation of “Indians” within South African society does not encourage stronger relationships with India.     

Engendering local government in post-apartheid South Africa – Experiences of female councillors in Durban (1996–2000)

This paper examines the participation of women in local government in the Durban Metro Area in the post-apartheid era. The primary purpose is to ascertain the degree of representation of women in local government structures and their influence on decision-making processes. The paper further attempts to determine the gender sensitivity of the male counterparts and their level of collaboration with female councillors. The gendered needs of women in local government and the various problems they experienced in office are highlighted. Finally, strategies to increase the participation of women in local government as well as to eradicate impediments, which they encounter, are advocated. The paper revealed that women have been under-represented in local government. Women who are elected into local government are discriminated against on grounds of gender and often race. They tend to be side-lined and marginalised in decision-making and in positions of power. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Economic refugees in post-apartheid South Africa – Assets or liabilities? Implications for progressive migration policies

While South Africa's political transformation has been lauded internationally, one of the greatest challenges facing the post-apartheid democratic government is undocumented immigration. There has been a xenophobic tendency to stigmatise immigrants, particularly those from other African countries as criminals, as people who undermine economic development and take jobs from locals. The aim of this paper is to critically review changing policies towards undocumented migration in post-apartheid South Africa. More specifically, the paper will present a historical context to migration; question whether there are millions of illegal immigrants in South Africa; identify reasons for the increasing influx of migrants into the country; analyse the rise of xenophobia in the Republic; discuss problems associated with migrants; and assess changing immigration policies. The main reason for leaving their home countries was a lack of employment opportunities. Therefore the migrants could be regarded as economic refugees. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Species diversity and population status of threatened plants in different landscape elements of the Rohtang Pass,western Himalaya

This paper highlights the quantitative estimates of plant species diversity and ecosystems of the Rohtang Pass,which is one of the most preferred visiting spots by tourists in Himachal Pradesh （H.P.）,India. In spite of high pressure of anthropogenic activities,the Rohtang Pass still harbours a variety of flowering plants with economic value,including various medicinal herbs. In order to observe species diversity in different landscape elements （LSEs）,ground surveys were conducted in nine unique LSEs within the elevation range between 3624 m and 4332 m. Plant community structure in each LSE was studied using stratified random sampling where a total 56 quadrats of 1 m^2 in size for herbs and 7 quadrats of 25 m^2 for shrubs were made. Of the total 50 plant species belonging to 15 families recorded in different random quadrats,24 species were found of medicinal value. Maximum species richness （18） and value of Shannon diversity （H＇=2.2648） were observed on northeast-facing slope in Picrorhiza kurrooa dominated LSE in moist area,followed by Rheum emodi LSE （species richness = 17 and H＇ = 2.4141） distributed on south-facing slope. Maximum values of species richness and Shannon diversity in Rheum emodi LSE were observed between 8 ～ 12 and 1.4797 ～ 2.1911,respectively. Rhododendron anthopogon dominated LSE on northwest-facing slope was found least diverse in terms of species richness where the Simpson index of dominance （D） was 0.4205. The species were equal in abundance in P. kurrooa LSE on east-facing slope and Pleurospermum candollii LSE on north-facing slope,showing the maximum similarity in terms of species distribution between the two LSEs. Low turnover of species across common LSEs gives an idea regarding their limited distribution. Five species of threatened category according to the IUCN criteria were observed in seven LSEs. The largest population of threatened medicinal plants was recorded on northeast and northwest-facing slopes where population density of Bergenia stracheyi （