Abstract
M.A.
OBJECTIVE
Littering has become a serious problem in most urban areas of South Africa, and
Johannesburg and Pretoria are no exceptions. Urban spaces are used for throwing away of
everything from cigarette butts to shopping bags, right-through to discarded furniture.
Pretoria and Johannesburg Central Business Districts are therefore used to illustrate this
problem.
The purpose of this research project is to study the litter problem in central Pretoria and
compare its findings with that of a similar study conducted for Johannesburg. The study
will further validate the results of Johannesburg and thereafter determine the practicality of
Johannesburg's recommendations for both cities to address the problem of littering.
The aims of the study are to determine attitudes of the general public in central Pretoria
towards littering, evaluate the physical conditions in terms of litter in the immediate
surroundings, as well as to make a comparative analysis between the findings of the
Pretoria project and that of Johannesburg (Appendix A).
RESEARCH METHOD
The research was conducted by means of a supervised survey. The survey method was
preceded by a preliminary study in the CBD of Pretoria. This method was used to locate
taxi ranks as well as to assess provision and conditions of street waste and litterbins.
Primary data were collected by using three different sets of questionnaires. The survey was
conducted on a sample population of 652, which was randomly selected. Microsoft Excel
software package was used in the data analysis, and Chart wizard to create diagrams.
RESULTS
Litter was found to be a serious and growing problem in both cities. Litter conditions were
found to be at unacceptable levels and there is reason to believe that it will deteriorate even
further if not given urgent and proper attention by decision-makers. A number of disciplinary actions were suggested, but the author's opinion is that those actions should be
followed by disciplining litterbugs.
The comparative analysis shows that the findings of both projects are almost identical and
are in concurrence with each other. Moreover, the findings show that the two cities suffer
from a similar problem with varying degree. The recommendations of the Johannesburg
study are thus considered to be valid and practical for the Pretoria study as well.