SPLUMA in summary: 

The Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013 (SPLUMA) is a South African act that was passed in 2013 and is designed to ensure uniform, inclusive development, efficient spatial planning, monitoring, policy principles, norms, and standards within spatial planning and land use management, to address spatial injustices, and to provide for the functions and operations of planning by municipalities.

Spatial planning and land use management are functions of municipalities, and the by-laws of the municipalities determine the process for the ideals of SPLUMA. The municipalities, through national, provincial, and municipal spatial planning guidelines, policies, spatial ideals, and planning merits, seek to ensure sustainable spatial growth within municipal areas.

Spatial planning and land use management need to be a well-planned and executed forward-thinking process to ensure sustainable, equitable, and economic growth for all municipalities.

What is SPLUMA:

SPLUMA is the mechanism in South Africa for spatial planning and land use management. Spatial planning and land use management refer to various sectors within the town and regional planning; more specifically, statutory spatial planning and land use management may also refer to the following policies and guidelines:

• The Integrated Development Plan (IDP)
• Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Structures Act 
• National Spatial Development Perspective and Plans
• Provincial strategies and provincial development plans
• Spatial Development Frameworks (SDF)
• Municipal Spatial Development Framework (MSDF)
• Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF)

The above-mentioned policies and guidelines, although not exhaustive, are in general the policies and guidelines most associated with SPLUMA and spatial planning and land use management in South Africa and are used to guide spatial planning and land use management within South Africa and, more specifically, municipalities.

In addition to the above policies and guidelines, municipalities use town planning schemes and/or land use schemes to denote and prescribe development controls for land, agricultural holdings, or farm portions by virtue of specific zoning or land use rights assigned or created in the spatial planning and land use management processes.

Why SPLUMA:

There are various reasons for SPLUMA; some are technical; however, in broad terms, SPLUMA was created to ensure uniform, inclusive development, efficient spatial planning in all spheres of government, monitoring, policy principles, norms, and standards within spatial planning and land use management, to address spatial injustices, and to provide for the functions and operations of planning by municipalities.

Spatial planning and land use management are functions of municipalities and are determined or delineated by the IDP, the Municipal Structures Act, and the Municipal Systems Act, to name a few.

The spatial planning and land use management functions assigned to municipalities stem from the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

Relationship of government spheres and SPLUMA: 

There are three spheres of government in South Africa:

• National
• Provincial, and
• Municipal

In accordance with the Constitution of South Africa, spatial planning and land use management are functions of municipalities; the processes and requirements are therefore managed by municipalities.

The various spatial planning and acts such as the IDP, Municipal Structures and Systems Act, National Development Plan/Perspective, Provincial Growth Strategies/Development Frameworks, Municipal Spatial Development Frameworks/Plans and regional Spatial Development Plans stem from the national and provincial levels, are further refined on the municipal level, and are enacted or implemented on the municipal level as far as they relate to the processes and requirements for spatial planning and land use management. 

Functions of SPLUMA:

As indicated above, SPLUMA has many functions in general as it relates to spatial planning and land use management. One of the functions of SPLUMA is to prescribe by-laws for municipal land use planning. These by-laws prescribe the requirements for land use management applications to be submitted to the council, including:

• Application requirements
• Application fees
• Application forms
• Motivational requirements
• Processes relating to submission, circulation, approval, and post-approval processes

Urban Arrow Town Planners and Development Consulting (Pty) Ltd: Your Town and Regional Planning Consultant. 

At Uban Arrow Town Planners and Development Consulting (Pty) Ltd, we specialize in guiding SPLUMA applications for successful development projects in Tshwane / Pretoria. Our in-depth knowledge of regulations, combined with our design and planning expertise, will streamline your path to realization. Contact us to explore your project’s potential.

Please note: This is a general guide. Specific requirements and procedures can vary. Always consult with a Qualified and Professional Town Planner for the most up-to-date information and personalized advice.