Verna Nel
Biographic Data
| ID | 4219252 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Verna Nel |
| GIVEN NAMES | Verna |
| FAMILY NAME | Nel |
| SIGNATURE | NEL V |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of the Free State |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7446-5669 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 23 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2016 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
The quest for inclusive transit-oriented development in Mangaung, South Africa
Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a concept popularized in the USA to create nodes of development around transit stops. These nodes should include housing, shopping, employment, and entertainment facilities to reduce the need for car travel. This article explores another form of transit-oriented development that serves the townships and informal settlements where the majority of South Africans reside. Here, minibus taxis are one of the most c…
The Role of Urban Planning in Strengthening Urban Food Security in Africa
This paper critically examines how urban planning influences food security in the rapidly urbanizing landscapes of Africa, focusing on Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. These countries, with their distinct urban challenges and developmental contexts, provide a comparative framework for understanding the pivotal role of urban planning in addressing urban food security issues. The paper presents several core aspects of urban food systems: the in…
A dél-afrikai helyi önkormányzatok előtt álló kihívások a lakhatás által vezérelt gazdaságfejlesztésben
Democratic efforts to provide township housing in South Africa have made significant strides but largely failed to integrate local economic development. The disconnection between housing provision and economic strategies has perpetuated a fragmented urban landscape where township residents continue to endure inadequate living conditions and limited access to sustainable economic opportunities. This paper examines challenges faced by Mangaung Metr…
The Exclusion of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Planning Open Spaces in Namibia
The lack of accessible and valuable public open spaces for socio-cultural activities is a concern in low-income urban areas. Through an indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) lens, we explored indigenous cultural open spaces (the olupale and omuvanda ) of two communities in Namibia and their relevance to urban areas. This qualitative study included interviews, informal discussions, sharing circles (focus groups) storytelling, and participatory observ…
The Impacts of Peri-Urban Expansion on Municipal and Ecosystem Services
The sub-Saharan cities are growing and changing due to immigration and modernization. One of the consequences of the current urbanization is that an increasing number of families residing in peri-urban areas of small rural towns lack access to basic municipal and ecosystem services. The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the impacts of peri-urban expansion on municipal services provided by the governments and on ecosystems services through a …
The Application of Constructivist Grounded Theory Methodology in an Urban Planning Doctoral Thesis
The aim of this paper is to show the potential value of using the constructivist grounded theory (CGT) methodology in the Urban and Regional Planning discipline. This is done by reflecting on the application of the CGT fundamentals defined by Kathy Charmaz, applied in a doctoral thesis in Urban and Regional Planning. The substantive area of research in which the thesis took place was the practical training experience of planners in becoming profe…
Broken bridges over troubled waters
The increasing informal urbanism in Africa exposes its residents to multiple shocks, including urban public health pandemics. South Africa is not an exception due to the squalid living conditions, lack of essential services and amenities, and overcrowding characterizing informal settlements. We argue that such conditions compromise the liveability of the informal settlements and the wellbeing of the communities. The urban health inequality concep…
Theory versus Practice in Planning Education
This paper reflects on the ongoing debate between theory and practice in planning, using the example of South Africa. Based on survey responses, it discusses how planning education in South Africa is perceived to prepare students for practice. While we acknowledge that the majority of respondents view their planning education positively, the results reveal challenges regarding the practical application of theory, especially in the case of land-us…
Risk communication in an informal settlement during Covid-19
This article interrogates the nuances of risk communication in a poor neighbourhood of South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. We argue that risk communication had multifaceted implications for managing and governing the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic has coincided with the information age, where multiple communication channels affect the success of risk communication through miscommunication, false news, or distortion. Using a qualitative s…
Unpacking planners' views of the success and failure of planning in post-apartheid South Africa
Urban Geography in Postcolonial Zimbabwe
Economic Transitions in South Africa’s Secondary Cities
Many South African secondary cities depend on a single economic sector, often mining or manufacturing. This makes them vulnerable to economic change and national decision-making. We describe change in three secondary cities—Emalahleni, Matjhabeng and Newcastle—all at different phases of economic transition due to imminent mine closure. We investigate the way local governance and planning are dealing with the change. We draw on concepts from insti…
Towards an understanding of proactive upzoning globally and in South Africa
Place attachment and social disruption in Postmasburg, a rapidly growing South African mining town
Putting Spatial Resilience into Practice
Exercising the right to access adequate housing in Joe Morolong Local Municipality, Rural South Africa
A thriving coal mining city in crisis? The governance and spatial planning challenges at Witbank, South Africa
Spluma, Zoning and Effective Land Use Management in South Africa
Alienation, reception and participative spatial planning on marginalised campuses during transformational processes
Scientific publications acknowledge that geographical setting contributes greatly to the unique identity—and eventual sustainability and distinction—of a higher educational institution. This includes the marginalised campus—the satellite, secondary, branch, remote, rural or regional. Alienation of the marginalised campus from the main/mainstream campus forms an international discourse. This conceptual article aims to make an interdisciplinary con…
A better zoning system for South Africa
A better zoning system for South Africa
Economic Transitions in South Africa’s Secondary Cities
Many South African secondary cities depend on a single economic sector, often mining or manufacturing. This makes them vulnerable to economic change and national decision-making. We describe change in three secondary cities—Emalahleni, Matjhabeng and Newcastle—all at different phases of economic transition due to imminent mine closure. We investigate the way local governance and planning are dealing with the change. We draw on concepts from insti…
Risk communication in an informal settlement during Covid-19
This article interrogates the nuances of risk communication in a poor neighbourhood of South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. We argue that risk communication had multifaceted implications for managing and governing the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic has coincided with the information age, where multiple communication channels affect the success of risk communication through miscommunication, false news, or distortion. Using a qualitative s…
Towards an understanding of proactive upzoning globally and in South Africa
Place attachment and social disruption in Postmasburg, a rapidly growing South African mining town
A thriving coal mining city in crisis? The governance and spatial planning challenges at Witbank, South Africa
Exercising the right to access adequate housing in Joe Morolong Local Municipality, Rural South Africa
Spluma, Zoning and Effective Land Use Management in South Africa
Alienation, reception and participative spatial planning on marginalised campuses during transformational processes
Scientific publications acknowledge that geographical setting contributes greatly to the unique identity—and eventual sustainability and distinction—of a higher educational institution. This includes the marginalised campus—the satellite, secondary, branch, remote, rural or regional. Alienation of the marginalised campus from the main/mainstream campus forms an international discourse. This conceptual article aims to make an interdisciplinary con…
A better zoning system for South Africa
Putting Spatial Resilience into Practice
Exercising the right to access adequate housing in Joe Morolong Local Municipality, Rural South Africa
A thriving coal mining city in crisis? The governance and spatial planning challenges at Witbank, South Africa
Place attachment and social disruption in Postmasburg, a rapidly growing South African mining town
Towards an understanding of proactive upzoning globally and in South Africa
Urban Geography in Postcolonial Zimbabwe
Economic Transitions in South Africa’s Secondary Cities
Many South African secondary cities depend on a single economic sector, often mining or manufacturing. This makes them vulnerable to economic change and national decision-making. We describe change in three secondary cities—Emalahleni, Matjhabeng and Newcastle—all at different phases of economic transition due to imminent mine closure. We investigate the way local governance and planning are dealing with the change. We draw on concepts from insti…
Broken bridges over troubled waters
The increasing informal urbanism in Africa exposes its residents to multiple shocks, including urban public health pandemics. South Africa is not an exception due to the squalid living conditions, lack of essential services and amenities, and overcrowding characterizing informal settlements. We argue that such conditions compromise the liveability of the informal settlements and the wellbeing of the communities. The urban health inequality concep…
Theory versus Practice in Planning Education
This paper reflects on the ongoing debate between theory and practice in planning, using the example of South Africa. Based on survey responses, it discusses how planning education in South Africa is perceived to prepare students for practice. While we acknowledge that the majority of respondents view their planning education positively, the results reveal challenges regarding the practical application of theory, especially in the case of land-us…
Risk communication in an informal settlement during Covid-19
This article interrogates the nuances of risk communication in a poor neighbourhood of South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. We argue that risk communication had multifaceted implications for managing and governing the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic has coincided with the information age, where multiple communication channels affect the success of risk communication through miscommunication, false news, or distortion. Using a qualitative s…
Unpacking planners' views of the success and failure of planning in post-apartheid South Africa
The Application of Constructivist Grounded Theory Methodology in an Urban Planning Doctoral Thesis
The aim of this paper is to show the potential value of using the constructivist grounded theory (CGT) methodology in the Urban and Regional Planning discipline. This is done by reflecting on the application of the CGT fundamentals defined by Kathy Charmaz, applied in a doctoral thesis in Urban and Regional Planning. The substantive area of research in which the thesis took place was the practical training experience of planners in becoming profe…
The Exclusion of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Planning Open Spaces in Namibia
The lack of accessible and valuable public open spaces for socio-cultural activities is a concern in low-income urban areas. Through an indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) lens, we explored indigenous cultural open spaces (the olupale and omuvanda ) of two communities in Namibia and their relevance to urban areas. This qualitative study included interviews, informal discussions, sharing circles (focus groups) storytelling, and participatory observ…
The Impacts of Peri-Urban Expansion on Municipal and Ecosystem Services
The sub-Saharan cities are growing and changing due to immigration and modernization. One of the consequences of the current urbanization is that an increasing number of families residing in peri-urban areas of small rural towns lack access to basic municipal and ecosystem services. The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the impacts of peri-urban expansion on municipal services provided by the governments and on ecosystems services through a …
The Role of Urban Planning in Strengthening Urban Food Security in Africa
This paper critically examines how urban planning influences food security in the rapidly urbanizing landscapes of Africa, focusing on Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. These countries, with their distinct urban challenges and developmental contexts, provide a comparative framework for understanding the pivotal role of urban planning in addressing urban food security issues. The paper presents several core aspects of urban food systems: the in…
A dél-afrikai helyi önkormányzatok előtt álló kihívások a lakhatás által vezérelt gazdaságfejlesztésben
Democratic efforts to provide township housing in South Africa have made significant strides but largely failed to integrate local economic development. The disconnection between housing provision and economic strategies has perpetuated a fragmented urban landscape where township residents continue to endure inadequate living conditions and limited access to sustainable economic opportunities. This paper examines challenges faced by Mangaung Metr…
The quest for inclusive transit-oriented development in Mangaung, South Africa
Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a concept popularized in the USA to create nodes of development around transit stops. These nodes should include housing, shopping, employment, and entertainment facilities to reduce the need for car travel. This article explores another form of transit-oriented development that serves the townships and informal settlements where the majority of South Africans reside. Here, minibus taxis are one of the most c…
Urban and Rural Development Challenges (15 works) · Geography (12 works) · Political science (12 works) · Economics (9 works) · Business (8 works) · Economic growth (8 works) · Environmental planning (8 works) · Sociology (7 works) · Legal Issues in South Africa (6 works) · Local Economic Development and Planning (6 works)