Spatial change phenomena in SA – explorations and innovations

Abstract

We would like to dedicate this special edition to our beloved colleague and friend, Maria Joe Coetzee who passed away on 2 November 2014. The work depicted in this special edition is testimony of her visionary leadership, insightful contributions and dedication to planning practice, policy development and research and development in the fields of integrated development planning and intergovernmental collaboration. Maria’s ability to conceptualise, rationalise and then to realise new ideas and challenges was evident in the passionate way she supported innovations in planning systems, tools, technologies and policies. Her desire for making a difference in the planning field and her belief in the potential of people to achieve this was and is evident in the importance given to collaborative practices, capacity building, and knowledge transfers – providing a platform and opportunity to strengthen planning in South Africa. This special edition was one of her visions and comprises a selection of outcomes from the stepSA initiative (spatial temporal evidence for planning South Africa).