Study Tour / Theme

The theme of this study tour is “the integral development of the rainbow nation”. The rainbow nation is a metaphor for South Africa’s diversity due to its multi-cultural society and the diversity in the environment and landscape of the country. To develop a country with so many different aspects, it is very important to be aware of all these aspects and take these into account to develop a country in unity.

To gain more knowledge about the central theme, research will be done. Important for the theme is to see what kind of approach South Africa takes to make its ambitions come true. Does it tend to go for quick solutions to tackle the biggest issues, or is it taking a cautious approach that covers all demands and important aspects? Which kind of  projects have been chosen to serve both economic growth and the interests of the population, and what are the effects of these projects on society and the environment? These questions can be summarized into one question - whether the adopted approach of, for instance traffic, poverty and water problems, are proving to be an integral approach. Do these approaches contribute to social welfare and ecological improvements in South Africa, or are they only making things worse?

The question which can be asked in respect to this theme is:
What are key issues in the application of integral development in South Africa and what can civil engineering contribute in addressing these issues?