OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open access peer-reviewed journal
Table of Contents
| The Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Green Spaces and their impact on the Urban Environment of Bhopal Region, Madhya Pradesh, India | 11-34 |
| Evaluating the Quality of Life for Sustainable Peri-Urban Development Planning: A Case of Imphal City, Manipur Northeastern State, India | 35-60 |
| Child marriages in South Africa: An Assessment of How the Custom of Ukuthwala Aligns with the Proposed Single Marriage Bill | 61-66 |
| The Role of District Commissioners in Managing Sustainable Development in Tanzania | 62-72 |
| Medical Certificates Issued by Traditional Health Practitioners: Are they Valid in the Eyes of the Employer and the Law? | 73-76 |
| Cataloging The Commissioner’s “Thumbprints” – Items the South African Revenue Service can Seize from a Taxpayer | 77-92 |
| Enhancing Sustainable Development with the Development of a Virtual Driving License Testing System in Mabopane, South Africa | 93-108 |
| Developing rural communities’ strategies in addressing cultural obstacles: Enhancing health and wellbeing for sustainable development | 109-118 |
The Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Green Spaces and their impact on the Urban Environment of Bhopal Region, Madhya Pradesh, India
Adinarayanane Ramamurthy 1, Disha Jain 2, Faiz Ahmed Chundeli 3
1,2 Department of Planning, School of Planning & Architecture Vijayawada, Government of India, Andhra Pradesh, India.
3 Department of Architecture, School of Planning & Architecture Vijayawada, Government of India, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Volume 18, Issue 01, Pg. 11-34, 2025
Posted on November 19, 2024.
Abstract: Green spaces are an integral part of urban landscape and offer numerous benefits related to quality of urban life. As the world’s population continues to urbanize, population density increases and people endure the ever-increasing speed of the urban environment. Urban green space plays an essential role in the urban ecosystem and highly contributes to the welfare of urban residents. Understanding the dynamics of green space is crucial for its planning and management. The role of urban green space (UGS) in urban sustainability is attracting increasing attention from researchers. However, due to various factors, the distribution of green spaces among city neighbourhoods is often skewed. Urban growth is occurring at an unprecedented rate worldwide with 65% of the population expected to reside in urban areas by 2025. The extensive study of literature reveals that most of the environmental impacts of urbanization are associated with green space. Having realized the importance of green space in urban ecosystems, considerable work has been devoted to improving the urban environment and enhancing citizens’ quality of life through urban green space planning. Hence, urban planners require effective tools to routinely map and monitor the greening/ un-greening phenomena among the neighbourhoods. This research study caters to the need by adopting a geospatial green space distribution assessment approach that encompasses green space quantity, quality, and accessibility aspects.
Keeping the aforesaid knowledge in mind, Bhopal City has been chosen for further detailed investigation. In this study, we investigate the spatio-temporal variation of UGS and its relationship with urban growth based on an empirical analysis in the Bhopal study region during rapid urban development decadal phases between 2001–2021.The remote sensing data reveals that changing UGS pattern declined notably in the first decade and has increased slightly since 2001, with the green areas mainly clustered in the urban centres. In this study, FRAGSTATS software has been employed to quantify spatial patterns in land cover through landscape metrics and their changes over time in the study region. This study attempt has been made to quantify the cooling effect of green spaces and its spatial variation, using Landsat 9 USGS Earth explorer by employing ArcGIS. It reveals that urban green spaces have a significant impact in reducing land surface temperatures (LST), contributing to a more pronounced cooling effect in the surrounding neighbourhoods. In this research, an attempt has been made to explore the causal relationship between green spaces and land values, by employing multiple regression analysis. The findings shed light on the significant impact of park size and location in relation to other parks on the average temperature of the neighbourhood. Furthermore, it indicates that development of parks can contribute to better land prices in the surrounding areas, potentially leading to increased revenue for urban local bodies. This is clearly evident that the economic benefits associated with the strategic allocation and preservation of green spaces within the urban environment. Based on the findings, the study evolve a comprehensive operational framework and suggested guidelines for determining the optimal size and spacing of parks within neighbourhoods to enhance the potential of urban green spaces navigating towards sustainable urban growth
Keywords: Urban Green Space; LST; Cooling Effect; Compactness Index; Urban Growth; Sustainable Development.
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Evaluating the Quality of Life for Sustainable Peri-Urban Development Planning: A Case of Imphal City, Manipur Northeastern State, India
Adinarayanane Ramamurthy 1, Ningthoujam Kingson Singh 2, Faiz Ahmed Chundeli 3
1,2,3 School of Planning & Architecture Vijayawada, Government of India, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Volume 18, Issue 01, Pg. 35-60, 2025.
Posted on November 23, 2024.
Abstract: Urban Sprawl, as a low-density, unplanned, unlimited, and sporadic physical expansion towards suburban area is one of the worldwide challenges facing spatial land management and development planning in recent years. Indian cities have been faced with the urban sprawl phenomenon, especially since the 1970s. More recently, scientific studies have been proved the impact of urban sprawl in peri-urban areas poses a significant challenge to optimal land use management in India. While existing research on urban sprawl in the country tends to focus on larger metropolitan areas, the dynamics of smaller cities and towns, especially in the context of infrastructure needs and quality of life, have been largely overlooked. This research gap becomes particularly evident in the case of smaller cities like Imphal City of North-Eastern India, where rapid urbanization is accompanied by distinct socio-cultural and geographic factors. Keeping the aforesaid knowledge in mind, the Greater Imphal Planning Region, Manipur State, India has been chosen as the study region, which is not exempted from the impacts of urban sprawl on peri-urban development and for making further detailed investigation. In the Imphal study region, urban expansion has led to challenges such as haphazard land development, encroachments, inadequate infrastructure provisions, and inadequate land use planning, which end up with negative consequences on quality of life. The demographic landscape of Manipur, with 10% valley and 90% hilly terrain, sees 57% of its population residing in the valley and 43% in the hills, where 41% of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population predominates, leading to significant land management challenges due to restrictions on non-ST individuals’ land ownership in hilly areas under the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reform Act of 1960, particularly affecting the valley region. This legal framework underscores the necessity for meticulous urban planning for optimal use of land resource management. This research study aims to assess the impact of Urban sprawl over Peri-urban Development planning and to evolve the spatial interaction model to achieve better Quality of life and sustainable peri-urban development in the study region. The Research study analyses the spatial growth using spatial metrics, quantified demand and supply gaps in infrastructure services and assesses the quality of life in the peri-urban system also evolving a spatial interaction model using the Gravity model tool by employing ArcGIS Pro. The scope involves studying urban expansion in the peri-urban area of the Greater Imphal Boundary, with a focus on spatial aspects and a mix of qualitative and quantitative analysis. The study made the comparison between unorganized development in peri-urban areas and the overall quality of Life by residents in those areas, with urban areas, in respect of LULC and associated population. The Quality of Life (QOL) assessment, domains like, Facilities, Safety and Security, Environment, Physical Health, Psychological Health, and social linkages were judged. Further, the study unveil insights into spatial growth dynamics, and informed urban planning for sustainable development. Based on the findings, the study continues with the evolving spatial interaction model and recommends location-specific planning strategies through planning intervention to promote sustainable peri-urban development planning.
Keywords: Land management; Quality of life; Sustainable Peri-Urban Development; Urban Sprawl; Urban Growth Dynamics.
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Child marriages in South Africa: An Assessment of How the Custom of Ukuthwala Aligns with the Proposed Single Marriage Bill
Nqobizwe Mvelo Ngema 1, Lizelle Calvino 2, Tolaine Matadi 3
1,2,3 Law Department, University of Zululand, South Africa.
Volume 18, Issue 02, Pg. 61-66, 2025.
Posted on November 24, 2024.
Abstract: In line with international standards, the Civil Union Act precludes minors from entering into a marriage. On the other hand, the Marriage Act and the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act do make provisions that subject to consent being obtained, a minor may enter into a customary or civil marriage. The proposed Single Marriage Bill sets out to unify the various marriage laws into a single legal framework. In so doing the Bill ensures that all forms of marriage comply with constitutional rights and traditional practices, like ukuthwala. The practice of cultural practices has to however be conducted in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of all individuals involved, aligning with constitutional protections and international human rights standards.
Recent statistics revealed that some child marriages continue to persist in South Africa despite the current legislative majors that forbid and or restrict child marriages. Given this, the article seeks to explore whether the provisions of the proposed Single Marriage Bill, require that a person must be 18 years of age and give their full and free consent to enter into a marriage, may be enough to deter child marriages. In answering the question, the impact of cultural epistemologies behind the custom of ukuthwala, which may be perpetuating child marriages will be evaluated. For this purpose, documentary analysis as well as the analysis of historical and contemporary narratives, media reports, and cultural texts related to ukuthwala will be adopted. Utilising a human rights perspective to evaluate how ukuthwala aligns with international and national human rights standards, focusing on issues such as consent, child protection, and gender equality will form the theoretical basis for the research.
From the research conducted, it is evident that historically ukuthwala, which involves the abduction of a young woman by a man and his friends as a precursor to marriage negotiations was a consensual practice, but in contemporary times, it has often been associated with forced and underage marriages, raising significant legal and human rights concerns. This paper cautions that the negative forms of ukuthwala that exclude the consent of the bride are a clear violation of human rights and are likely to perpetuate child marriages. It also cautions against the exceptions in the current legislative framework and commends the proposed Single Marriage Bill for not leaving any room for exceptions.
Keywords: Child marriages, Single Marriage Bill, ukuthwala custom.
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The Role of District Commissioners in Managing Sustainable Development in Tanzania
Norman Adamson Sigalla King
University of Iringa, Tanzania.
Volume 18, Issue 01, Pg. 67-72, 2025
Posted on December 14, 2024.
Abstract: Sustainable development is a concept that refers to a mode of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves balancing economic growth, social progress, and environmental protection in a way that promotes long term well-being for society. Sustainable development aims to address current challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation while ensuring that resources are managed responsibly for the benefit of both present and future generations. Sustainable development requires partners that are arranged cordially in works to enable them to perform what we call a mutual understanding. It is achieved through waying the development, which is achieved from looking to the right, to the left, behind and to the future. To enhance this sustainable development, in Tanzania we observe that leaders of the government are divided in three main categories: The president and his/her cabinet, Regional Commissioners, and District Commissioners. This paper entails to check the role of district commissioners in managing sustainable development in Tanzania. The issue we are looking at is because of the potentials of the district commissioners and the mandate this carder has over the rest of the carder. We understand that in Tanzania the District Commissioners and Regional Commissioners carry equal weight with the president of Tanzania in terms of power to detain people. We do not have any other carder or a person whose mandate to detain people are provided by the law other than the president, regional commissioners, and district commissioners. Most research has gone to elude regional commissioners but very few have endorsed the district commissioners. It is an important carder because they are appointed by the president of united republic of Tanzania. The two carders are regional commissioners and district commissioners. These oversee every activity that is performed in their district. Just as the president is sole in charge of every activity that is pursued in the entire land known as Tanzania, equally the district commissioner and the regional commissioner. We notice that from the first regime of Tanzania which was led by Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere he was keen at appointing regional commissioners and district commissioners. He could change the ministers but for the regional commissioners and district commissioners their vetting was too huge to change them, hence sustainable development. This paper is a case study design which focusses on one country known as Tanzania. We have used documentation, experiential, interviews, and observations as a leading data collection tool. We have further, used the qualitative data analysis strategies to analyze data and avail conclusion. The paper concludes that in Tanzania the District Commissioner are the pillar to sustainable development. It further, reveals that for the country to depend on the district commissioners for enhancing sustainable development, the appointing authority must way on the qualities of persons who are appointed to discharge as district commissioners. And that junior and incompetent workers should not be considered for the appointment of district commissioners due to huge mandate they carry.
Keywords: Development; District Commissioners; Managing; Sustainable Development
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Medical Certificates Issued by Traditional Health Practitioners: Are they Valid in the Eyes of the Employer and the Law?
Ngema Nqobizwe Mvelo 1, Mthokozisi Khuzwayo 2
1.2 Department of Law, University of Zululand, South Africa.
Volume 18, Issue 01, Pg. 73-76, 2025
Posted on December 14, 2024.
Abstract: The Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 (BCEA) is the legislation that is responsible for regulation of employee’s leave in the employment sector. Section 23 authorizes the employer not to remunerate an employee who has been absent from work for more than one consecutive day without producing a medical certificate stating that he or she was absent from work because of illness. Validity of medical certificates issued by traditional health practitioners remains a contentious issue. In view of the cultural and religious diversity that thrives in the country. The Constitution permits citizens to practice their cultural beliefs as they deem feet provided that is done within the confines of the Constitution. Cultural beliefs and religious beliefs play a major role in the general psych of a human being. This goes a long way even when a person falls sick, his or her belief system directs the appropriate path to be taken when seeking healing. One may prefer to go to church for deliverance and prayers, another person may choose to seek help from hospitals (with doctors using western medicine) and others may choose to go to traditional healers for help. Until of late, traditional health practitioners such as Sangomas and Izinyanga were not registered in any council created in terms of legislation as mandated by the BCEA 75 of 1997. Any traditional health practitioner registered with the traditional health council is entitled to issue a valid medical certificate. However, this paper cautions that it would be difficult to regulate traditional health practitioners because they are not trained in a same way and their training has a connection with the leading of the ancestral spirits. This paper also shows the dangers of failing to separate between the law and spiritual matters.
Keywords: Validity of Medical certificates issued by Traditional Health Practitioners
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Cataloging The Commissioner’s “Thumbprints” – Items the South African Revenue Service can Seize from a Taxpayer
Werner Roux Uys 1, Liezel Gaynor Tredoux 2
1 Department of Taxation, University of South Africa, Gauteng, South Africa.
2 Department of Mercantile Law, University of South Africa, Gauteng, South Africa.
Volume 18, Issue 01, Pg. 77-92, 2025
Posted on December 14, 2024
Abstract: The right to privacy is a fundamental human right protected by law in many countries, including South Africa. However, there are situations in which officials, such as the South African Revenue Service (SARS), may need to legitimately breach these rights to investigate criminal activities. This article discusses the importance of tax officials showing “reasonable grounds” to apply for a warrant and what SARS may search for and seize during an investigation and to determine whether there are limitations on privacy rights that are reasonable and justifiable when determining the items to be seized. The research methodology involves examining South African case law to interpret the legislative scope for a valid search and seizure with a warrant, focusing on the “reasonable grounds” requirement and identifying which materials or articles can be seized. The tax acts provide the Commissioner for SARS with modern-day information-gathering powers to determine a taxpayer’s liability for any tax and combat tax evasion. These powers include less intrusive measures such as inspections, verifications, and audits, as well as more intrusive measures such as field audits, criminal investigations, inquiry orders, and search-and-seizure measures. SARS officials should justify their belief to a magistrate or judge in an ex parte application for a warrant that a person has failed to comply with their tax obligations and that “relevant material” will be found on the premises to be searched. The study concludes by reviewing the remedies available to taxpayers whose rights have been infringed during such operations.
Keywords: Items, Search, Seizure, Reasonable Grounds, Tax Administration Act.
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Enhancing Sustainable Development with the Development of a Virtual Driving License Testing System in Mabopane, South Africa
Milwauke Maebela 1, Johnson Olumuyiwa Dehinbo 2
1,2 Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Information & Communications Technology,
Tshwane University of Technology, Soshanguve, Tshwane, 0152, South Africa.
Volume 18, Issue 01, Pg. 93-108, 2025
Posted on December 16, 2024
Abstract: It was observed that obtaining drivers’ license from most drivers’ license testing centers in South Africa involves queueing for the whole day or two consecutive days to book for a learner’s license test date as these centers receive more applications whereas the space and other resources are limited. Due to lack of using relevant technologies, the centers are decorated with long queues and applicants experience delays in scheduling of tests’ dates. This is not in line with the goals of sustainable development. Applicants travel to the centers for bookings, something that can be done remotely using self-service online methods. The travel alone degrades environmental sustainable development. Money spent on the travel degrades financial sustainability. And time wasted on the queue (sometimes for days) also degrades financial sustainability. Upon such realization, the researchers were keen to find out about how the current trends especially focusing on Virtual Reality in Computer Science could be utilized to ease up the processes in acquiring the driving licenses. The purpose of this study therefore is to investigate and find out how Virtual Reality could be employed for prospective licensed drivers to be evaluated using the Virtual Reality tools, focusing on South African driver’s evaluation. A driving simulator can be considered as a vehicle operated in such a way that enables the production of sensory stimuli (i.e., visual, auditory, and haptic) so as to generate a virtual environment (VE) equivalent to driving. This simulated environment therefore acts on the driver at both a cognitive as well as at perceptive level. We thus proposed a driving simulator system modeled on a computer with the aim of creating a simulation system. A survey was used in validating the system for modeling approach for a Virtual Reality driver testing system. We believe that this study can encourage the South African government to use the technologies and methods including online systems and Virtual Reality, in order to eliminate the problems and the frustrations that the majority of the public face including the cases of bribery and corruption during the process of acquiring the licenses. We believe that this study could constitute the foundation of more innovations that can benefit South Africa and the research community as well.
Keywords: Virtual Reality (VR), Virtual Environment (VE), Testing System, Testing centre.
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Developing rural communities’ strategies in addressing cultural obstacles: Enhancing health and wellbeing for sustainable development
Fikile Xaba 1, Nondumiso Hadebe 2
1,2 Department of Social Work, University of Zululand, Kwa-Dlangezwa, 3886, South Africa.
Volume 18, Issue 01, Pg. 109-118, 2024
Posted on December 16, 2024.
Abstract: Rural communities face various cultural challenges that hinder their ability to enhance health and wellbeing, which is essential for sustainable development. Among them are cultural and social norms that may prioritise short-term needs over long-term health and wellbeing. Healthcare providers are hindered by cultural and linguistic barriers, as they might not be able to speak the local languages or understand the local customs and norms. Programmes targeted for community development are not easily accessible to everyone. This paper explores strategies to address cultural obstacles encountered by rural communities in enhancing their wellbeing for sustainable development. A systematic review approach was adopted to fulfil the objective of this study. The Cultural Humility Framework was applied to emphasise the importance of understanding and respecting the cultural beliefs, values, and practices of rural communities. It involves self-reflection, openness, and willingness to learn from others. Findings indicated that rural communities require a collaborative effort among stakeholders and policymakers to develop culturally sensitive and sustainable solutions. The study recommends culturally responsive interventions and programmes strategies to address the unique challenges faced by rural communities.
Keywords: Cultural humility framework, Health and Wellbeing, Rural communities, Sustainable development. Corporate community involvement
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