Natural System:

Negative features	Positive Features
Terrestrial Most natural ecosystems irretrievably damaged or under severe threat; soil erosion; contamination of land by wastes.	Terrestrial High biodiversity; productive and valuable natural heritage; high educational value of diverse natural environment.
Fresh water Severe water pollution in some river systems; excessive demands on available water resource.	Fresh water Relatively plentiful fresh water supplies from hinterland.
Marine Over-exploitation and decline of many commercially valuable marine stocks; severe damage to some estuaries and threats to all others.	Marine High species diversity; high recreational value and potential.
Air Outdoor and indoor pollution in some areas.	Air Generally good air quality.

Built System:

Negative features	Positive Features
Urban Form Fragmented, racially structured, with poor on periphery and affluent in the core.	Urban Form Well developed built system in the core city and suburban areas; significant areas of land for environment and development uses.
Housing Poor and unhealthy housing in informal settlements and overcrowded housing in townships; advancing inner city decay.	Housing Housing stock in core city and suburban areas mostly in good condition; RDP program provides opportunity to apply sustainable development principles.
Water and sanitation Non-existent, poor or deteriorating infrastructure and services in black areas, especially informal settlements.	Water and sanitation DMA core city and suburban areas are well serviced and the capacity exists to extend these services to the peripheries.
Waste Uncollected waste and inadequate services in areas on urban periphery, and in some core city areas; waste reduction and recycling not practised widely.	Waste Core city and suburban areas well serviced and capacity exists to extend services to the poorly serviced areas.
Transport Transport systems promote private car use and urban sprawl	Transport Good transport infrastructure; public transport infrastructure can be built upon and co-ordinated.
Energy Energy use based on high polluting, non-renewable resources.	Energy Rich and diverse base of potential energy sources e.g. coal, wind, solar.

Economic:

Negative features	Positive Features
Economy Very high levels of unemployment; heavy usage of energy, water and non-renewable inputs; serious waste disposal problems; air and water pollution.	Economy Probably the fastest growing metropolitan economy in SA; diverse economy with strengths in manufacturing; strategically located harbour and airport, and well developed transport system.

Social:

Negative features	Positive Features
Social Deep race, class and gender divisions; high levels of insecurity and fear.	Social Social, cultural ethnic and language diversity; abolition of racial policies.
Violence Intense competition for diminishing resources; high levels of conflict, violence and crime.	Peace Emerging ethos of negotiation, tolerance and co-operation.
Education Low levels of education amongst many sectors; lack of environmental awareness, or inappropriate conceptions of the environment shaping public opinion.	Education Considerable primary, secondary and tertiary educational infrastructure and capacity within the core city and suburban areas; growing public awareness of the importance of the environment.
Health Health problems of the poor and affluent; lack of priority or importance given to environmental health and primary health concerns within medical profession and in past health policy.	Health Considerable health infrastructure and capacity in the core city area; growing awareness of environmental health issues within profession and amongst the public.

Governance:

Negative features	Positive Features
Governance Breakdown in local government and administration in the black areas; hierarchical managerial structures, departmental segmentation and bureaucratic immobility within historically white local authorities.	Governance Creation of integrated local government and administration systems in the DMA; establishment of first democratic and inclusive system of local government.
City finances An affordability/needs gap for future service provision in black areas; non-payment of rates and non-provision of services in black residential areas.	City finances Financial capacity to address basic service needs within a reasonable time span.
Legal Fragmented, unco-ordinated legislative and regulatory system; under-resourced monitoring and regulation of environmental controls.	Legal New constitution conducive to sustainable development aims; devolution of powers over planning and regulation of land use, transportation and environment to metropolitan level.

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