Town and regional planners develop, from regional to neighbourhood level, programmes for the most advantageous and purposeful development of towns, cities and rural areas.
Town and regional planners focus on improving the living conditions of people. They estimate future needs for housing, business and industrial sites, community facilities and open spaces to meet the needs of expansion and renewal.
The work also entails further investigating the nature and extent of problems concerning prospective development such as projecting future needs in traffic and transportation. They need to keep up with legal issues involving community development and changes in housing and building codes.
The growing South African population and quick urbanization offer town and regional planners the opportunity to play a role in the development of affordable housing and effective infrastructure. The need to conserve historical and natural environments has also become an important development issue.
Most of the work is done in an office but it is also necessary to go out on site to see whether everything is done according to proposed development plans. Town and regional planners work closely with architects, engineers, economists, sociologists, administrators and management on matters concerning public interest and industry.
Satisfying Aspects
- being creative in solving tomorrow's problems today
- helping improve quality of life for others
- generally good remuneration
- the challenge and variety of work
Demanding aspects
- keeping up with the rules, bye-laws, codes and regulations
- meeting deadlines
- ad hoc or piece-meal decision-making
Requirements
A town and regional planner should:
- have above average intelligence;
- be creative and concerned with improving society and living standards;
- have three-dimensional perception ability;
- have integrity, tact and sociability;
- have a wide general knowledge;
- be original;
- have initiative;
- good planner and can visualize outcomes.
School Subjects
National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
National Senior Certificate meeting diploma requirements for a diploma course
Each institution will have its own minimum entry requirements.
Compulsory Subjects: Mathematics, Science
Recommended Subjects: Geography, Economics, Business Science, Life Sciences, Engineering and Graphic Design
Training
Degree: Town and Regional Planning - Wits, UJ, UP.
Postgraduate: qualifications can be obtained at the above universities. In these cases students have to be in possession of an approved degree (not necessarily in Town and Regional Planning), for example, a BEng (Civil), BSc or B degrees in Architecture or Surveying. Most of the Masters degrees are 2 years in duration.
Diploma: N.Dip: Town and Regional Planning - CPUT, DUT - with this qualification the candidates are known as town and regional planning technicians.
All graduated town and regional planners may register at the South African Council for Town and Regional Planners after completion of at least three years of approved postgraduate practical experience.
Employer
- Municipalities
- Provincial planning departments
- Property developers
- Private consultants
- Universities, universities of technology and research institutes
- Self-employment, as a consultant
Contact
Contact the local City Planning Department at the City Council
The Secretary
The South African Planning Institute
Private Bag X 200
Halfway House, 1685
Tel. (011) 805-5947 Fax: (011) 805-5971
The Director
City Planning Department
City Council of Pretoria
P O Box 3242
Pretoria, 0001
Tel. (012) 313-7911
www.sapi.org.za