In the face of unstoppable urbanisation, disaster risks are projected to increase, mainly in unplanned areas that usually lack disaster risk reducing infrastructure. In Africa, including South Africa, limited resources and capacity hinder the provision of such infrastructure. The objective of this study was to determine options for promoting disaster risk reducing infrastructure in informal settlements in Giyani Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa, a disaster risk-prone area. A case study was conducted to collect primary data from purposively selected experts and the SWOT factors from the Integrated Development Plan Report of 2019/2020. A TOWS analytical hierarchical process was applied to pairwise comparisons of factors to prioritize them using eigenvalues and generate strategic options for promoting disaster risk reduction infrastructure in the informal settlements of Giyani Local Municipality. In the TOWS results, the experts suggested integrating traditional authorities into the municipal development processes, implementing an environmental framework that includes disaster management policies and an integrated waste management plan, and developing innovative technological projects that provide up-to-date spatial planning data to provide disaster risk reducing infrastructure in informal areas. This study concludes that the provision of affordable housing, clean regular piped water, storm and sewer drainage systems, street lighting, accessible routes, solid waste collection, electricity, and healthcare services would reduce a range of disaster risks.

The Gauteng city region forms the economic hub of socio-economic development and growth in South Africa. The province itself includes the Johannesburg metropolitan city, Ekurhuleni metropolitan city as well as Tshwane municipality—key urban growth regions of Gauteng province, South Africa, and by extension Southern Africa. The region exhibits the rapid urbanisation challenges typical in any developing country city. Rural–urban migration, pressure on infrastructure demand, supply and capacity constraints and mismatches in urban governance structures with respect to service delivery have remained stubborn challenges. Initiatives and strategies to resolve urban traffic congestion such as through road construction and highway expansion (physical instrument), e-tolling of roads (financial instrument), innovative housing and waste management technology deployment (technology instruments) as well as presenting advanced spatial planning and development and management systems (planning and regulatory instruments) have been employed with mixed fortunes in attempts to (re)solve the urban problems in the study area. Making use of a thematic approach and technique, the major urbanisation issues are explored and solutions proffered. Recommendations revolve around the need to implement robust and progressive rafts of projects, programmes, activities, measures and actions to reverse spatial fragmentation and spatially inefficient transport induced and perpetuated disadvantages.

Disaster risks are becoming more prevalent in densely populated spaces such as informal settlements as a result of unplanned urbanisation. Several scholars ascribe this condition to inadequate awareness of spatial planning tools among informal settlers, as these influence where and how they construct their buildings for disaster risk reduction. This study aimed at assessing the awareness level of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements in Mopani District, South Africa. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 608 households that were selected using stratified sampling. The Relative Importance Index which was transformed into five importance levels was used to assess the awareness level of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction. The study analysed the relationship between participant characteristics and awareness level using a t-test and an analysis of variance (ANOVA). The transformed relative importance index revealed that there is a moderate to low level of awareness of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction. A t-test and an ANOVA revealed significant differences in awareness levels of spatial planning tools between the sub-groups based on gender, education and income levels. The females, low-income earners and less educated have a lower awareness level of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction. The study recommends focusing on raising awareness of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction among the females, low-income earners and less educated to promote safe, healthy and liveable spaces in informal settlements.