Unique in their complexity: Conceptualising everyday risk in urban communities in the Western Cape, South Africa

Zweig, Patricia; Pharoah, Robyn

doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2017.09.042

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 18 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…), are typically characterised by poverty, poor infrastructure, and high dwelling density [1]. These factors create a high-risk environment in which fires, flooding, and other hazards are often seen [2,3]. Focusing on fire risk, the following socio-economic conditions enhance the probability of having a fire event: hazardous lighting, cooking and heating methods; informal electric supply; and alcohol abuse [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards Understanding Fire Causes in Informal Settlements Based on Inhabitant Risk Perception

Quiroz

Walls

Cicione

2021

Fire

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Informal settlements (ISs) are a high-risk environment in which fires are often seen. In 2019 alone, 5544 IS fires were reported in South Africa. One of the main problems, when investigating an IS fire, is determining the fire cause. In the last 15 years, approximately 40% of the fire causes were classified as ‘undetermined’ in South Africa. Furthermore, the cases where the fire causes have been determined, do not provide the necessary information to comprehend why the fire started. This paper seeks to gain better insight with respect to fire causes by analysing the fire risk perception of IS inhabitants. To this end, a survey that was conducted in 2017, consisting of data from 2178 IS households, that were affected by a large-scale fire, was analysed. The survey consisted of questions relating to the fire risk perception with regards to the settlement in general, to the inhabitants’ own household, and about measures that could reduce fire risk. The analysis suggests that (a) the survey’s risk target had a strong influence on risk perception, (b) the inhabitants’ fire risk perception of their settlement is similar to that of firefighters in previous research, (c) the risk mitigation demands are more focused on decreasing the consequences of the fire than on the occurrence of a fire event, (d) the national fire statistics are not capturing the causes of real fire incidents, and (e) improvements to the documentation process after a fire event could provide critical information for the implementation of prevention measures.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards Understanding Fire Causes in Informal Settlements Based on Inhabitant Risk Perception

Quiroz

Walls

Cicione

2021

Fire

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Disasters and Disaster Risk Management in South Africa

Culwick

2018

World Regional Geography Book Series

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Official Risks and Everyday Disasters: the Interplay of Riskscapes in Two Unplanned Settlements in Monrovia

Innis

2022

Urban Forum

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Monrovia’s unplanned settlements provide a window into the diverse rationales and practices that go into planning and managing urban space. Even though unplanned settlements are economically, spatially, and socially integrated into cities, the desire to eliminate or formalise them persists. In the essay, I examine how everyday risks are addressed in the coexistence and co-evolution of planning and unplanned urbanisation in postwar contexts. As well as showing how expert-recommended risk management approaches cross over into local practices, I explain how and why multiple understandings of ‘risk’ and ‘resilience’ can influence practice. The unequal power dynamic suggests that the practices of state actors influence the residents of unplanned settlements, in a manner that is discernible of governmentality. As riskscapes, and by extension resilience, represent multiple realities to stakeholders, the question of coalescing the mosaic of practices into a common risk governance framework is critical. The essay emphasises that resilience-building should evolve from a thorough understanding of the dynamics of the multiplicity of riskscapes. Finally, the paper argues that an evolutionary approach to risk governance, paying attention to the interacting elements and configurations that link discourse, actors, institutions, power, and knowledge, will provide a platform for negotiating the links between risk perception and risk assessment within the emerging riskscapes. This will be the basis of a deliberative and negotiated resilience pathway that will integrate the priorities and interests of all stakeholders in the planning and decision-making process.

show abstract

Unique in their complexity: Conceptualising everyday risk in urban communities in the Western Cape, South Africa

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

Towards Understanding Fire Causes in Informal Settlements Based on Inhabitant Risk Perception

Towards Understanding Fire Causes in Informal Settlements Based on Inhabitant Risk Perception

Disasters and Disaster Risk Management in South Africa

Official Risks and Everyday Disasters: the Interplay of Riskscapes in Two Unplanned Settlements in Monrovia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About