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Environmental governance of an urban estuary: The case of Zandvlei
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867614020287070208 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Nightingale, Franky Thern |
| author2 | Pharoah, Robyn |
| author_browse | Nightingale, Franky Thern Pharoah, Robyn |
| author_facet | Pharoah, Robyn Nightingale, Franky Thern |
| author_sort | Nightingale, Franky Thern |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136088 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:45:23.741Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136088 Environmental governance of an urban estuary: The case of Zandvlei Nightingale, Franky Thern Pharoah, Robyn Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies . Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Nightingale, F. T. 2026. Environmental governance of an urban estuary: The case of Zandvlei. Unpublished thesis management. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/b63c94e2-2f4a-4ab3-a399-80a2915d1f20 Zandvlei is one of the last functioning estuaries in False Bay, with valuable ecological and recreational characteristics that are at risk due to intense and continuous pollution. This thesis looked to examine to what extent environmental risk governance is present in Zandvlei. To do this, it assessed the management structure to identify key enablers, in addition to the challenges that hinder the practical application of environmental risk governance. This was framed within a risk context of continual pollution. The study was achieved through a qualitative approach, consisting of semi-structured interviews with a range of stakeholders, including both government representatives and non-government actors. The findings identified that the pollution sources are predominantly outside of the Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve and are caused by process that are beyond the vlei’s management control. However, the Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve management team, working with various user groups, are able to prevent the collapse of Zandvlei as an ecological entity and recreational node. Several governance mechanisms became apparent, which assist in the management of Zandvlei: the Zandvlei Protected Areas Advisory Committee, and to a lesser extent the Sand River Catchment Forum. These forums provided examples of governance in practice, and demonstrated how they can add value to the governing of an environmental entity. The findings demonstrate that these forums have the potential to be spaces for information sharing, problem-solving and practical co-governance. However, contestation over miscommunication, lack of accountability, and questions over the tangible impacts of such forums on the actual decision-making that shapes the way in which Zandvlei is managed emerged. What is highlighted in the conclusion is that ‘governance’ in practice is inherently dependent on ‘government-centered management’ support and resources, in addition to the importance placed on such forums which impacts their degree of actual influence. In this regard, the mayor of Cape Town Geordin Hill-Lewis, has instigated a shift, both in the way urban waterbodies are perceived by government and its resources, and in addition the value placed on governance mechanisms such as the ZPAAC. Masters 2026-04-22T08:14:45Z 2026-04-22T08:14:45Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136088 en Stellenbosch University 145 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Nightingale, Franky Thern Environmental governance of an urban estuary: The case of Zandvlei |
| title | Environmental governance of an urban estuary: The case of Zandvlei |
| title_full | Environmental governance of an urban estuary: The case of Zandvlei |
| title_fullStr | Environmental governance of an urban estuary: The case of Zandvlei |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental governance of an urban estuary: The case of Zandvlei |
| title_short | Environmental governance of an urban estuary: The case of Zandvlei |
| title_sort | environmental governance of an urban estuary the case of zandvlei |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136088 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nightingalefrankythern environmentalgovernanceofanurbanestuarythecaseofzandvlei |