M.A. / This chapter has been dedicated towards painting a picture of the quality of life issues regarding migrant workers living in hostels. The results and findings as interpreted has brought about useful information that will be utilised to draw conclusions and recommendations. Quality of Life of Migrant Workers at Eskom The findings have reconfirmed who the migrant worker is in terms of the description given by Leatt (1981) which was the definition adopted for the study. The indices drawn from the objective and subjective indicators of quality of life which were adopted from Moller, Schlemmer and Du Toit's (1987) were used as the basis from which the interview schedule was drawn, and has proved useful. Reference is made in particular to questions 12,13 and 14. Relevant construct for quality of life were found, with more usable constructs from questions 12 and 13. Furthermore the statistical analysis of the vector of the mean test scores referring to the HOT 1 has also given useful information as it enabled the student to analyse three variables independently and jointly see section 3.3. Cross tabulations representing correlations between indices created out of quality of life indicators namely core quality of life issues as identified by Question(s) 12,13 and 14 and the objective indicators of quality of life, namely accommodation, the intake of nutritious food, and recreation practices. There is a clear demonstration of quality of life issues that should be looked at if the quality of life of migrant workers living in hostels has to be improved. Although there are many diverse quality of life issues identified in the study the three that were selected with the framework of this study has given usable information. The next chapter will address the conclusions and recommendations.

Section 26 of the Constitution of South Africa Act 108 of 1996 provides that housing is a basic human right and that the government must take reasonable legislative and other measures to achieve the realisation of this right. A number of measures were taken to try to resolve this socio-economic issue. A number of housing institutions were established , various pieces of legislation were passed and housing subsidies were provided. However, housing backlogs remain a challenge. In March 1994 the housing backlog was estimated between 1,3 and 1,8 million units. When more than a million houses were provided by 2001 , the housing backlog had increased to between 2 and 3 million houses. To date subsidies in excess of R29 billion have been spent on housing provision. A study by the Department of Housing concluded that, at the current rate of increase of housing funding vis-a-vis the growing backlog and rapid urbanisation, the household backlog will not be changed in ten years' time. The United States of America (USA) had a similar low cost housing problem, but securitisation alleviated it with the participation of government agencies Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae and Freddie Mac. In South Africa, the NHFC tried to emulate the USA model by establishing Gateway Home Loans (Pty) Limited (Gateway) in 1999. Gateway, however, was not a success. This research investigates whether securitisation can be applied in South Africa to alleviate the low cost housing issue. The study finds that there is a credit availability gap for the low income sector earning less than R8 000 per month because of the perceived risk of default and unwillingness by banks to lend to this sector. The increase in housing backlog that continues unabated, inadequate housing finance system to low income earners, the lessons learnt from the failure of Gateway, the success factors of the USA securitisation model and the sound and sophisticated South African financial system are the rationale for applying securitisation. A proposal of how to effectively apply securitisation to low cost housing in South Africa is provided with recommendations to revive the primary market.

The study investigates problems and challenges that, the Nyandeni local municipality faces in terms of housing delivery to its communities. The purpose is to look at the factors that affect housing delivery at Nyandeni local municipality in the Extension 4 Housing Project in Ngqeleni and what can be done in order to improve it. The housing development at Nyandeni Local Municipality is not up to standard, the situation is worse in rural areas where there is not a single rural housing project that has been implemented thus far instead, there is a lack of infrastructure and other essential services. This is a serious problem that the Nyandeni local municipality faces, as a result the most vulnerable people are the poorest of the poor particularly those residing in rural areas. The study has investigated housing delivery at Nyandeni local municipality with reference to the Extension 4 Housing Project in Ngqeleni. The investigation indicates that there are serious challenges facing housing delivery. Hence the beneficiaries of the project could not get their houses in time and the project could not be completed within the scheduled period.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 1998. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of the study is to explore the perceptions and preferences regarding house ownership on the part of farmworkers living in the Devon Valley/ Stellenbosch Kloof ("Devonkloof') area outside Stellenbosch. A study such as this is important for more than one reason: the institution of "tied housing" on South African farms, is probably the factor that contributes most to farmworkers' dependence on the farmer and the control that the latter exercises over the employee and his family. In the most recent period this vulnerability has increased as farmers, especially in the Western Cape, have started to adopt a more "businesslike" approach towards worker housing. When farmers refer to a "productive house", they point to an arrangement whereby it is expected from every able person in a household to make him- or herself available for farm work - especially during the harvest. In this way members of the farmworker community are denied the opportunity of permanent, better paid employment outside the farm. Women are the ones that are mainly affected by the scaling down of the benevolent side of paternalism. However, for the first time in South African history the opportunity now exists to break this dependence, or at least to reduce it. This possibility flows from the convergence of a variety of developments, the most important of which is the launching of the post-apartheid government's housing subsidy scheme for farmworkers. In essence, the latter boils down to an arrangement whereby farmworkers can apply to the Department of Land Affairs for an amount of R 15 000 when wanting to obtain land or a house. Another recent development which reduces farmworkers' dependence, is the concept legislation regarding security of tenure. lt lends protection against eviction especially to older farmworkers who have worked on the farm for ten years or more. That farmworkers are concerned about life after retirement and have an intense desire for secure housing, is not much of a secret. In order to effectively address this concern, financially viable housing alternatives need to be developed. For instance, provident fund/ pension scheme payments could be used in combination with state housing subsidies in order to obtain own title for workers. However, in order to be viable, it is equally important to take into account the perceptions and housing preferences of the workers themselves. To gauge these is the main objective of the study. For purposes of the study, the unit of analysis was defined as the head of the household (male or female) who lives on the farm, is engaged in a permanent contractual relation with the farmer and belongs to one of the Devonkloof provident funds. A random sample of 93 such farmworkers was drawn from a total population of 188 heads of households spread over 13 farms in the research area. Their perceptions and preferences regarding housing were explored during interviews conducted on the basis of a semi-structured questionaire. The interviews were held by the researcher himself and a number of final year Social Work students at the University of Stellenbosch. Data collected in this way, was analysed through the utilisation of the SPSS statistical package. The socio-economic profile of the workers involved in the study, confirms to a large extent the prevailing portrait of permanent farmworkers in the Western Cape: they are almost exclusively male and Afrikaans speaking. Their literacy level is relatively low and the majority earns a cash wage of R100-150 per week. Three-quarters have never left "their" farm for alternative work. Of those that have, many only did so to work for short stints on another farm. As a result, most of the workers involved know of no other existence than the (neo-)paternalist life world of the farm. The familiarity of the farm is one of the reasons why slightly more than 50% of wofkers indicated that they would prefer to live on the farm during their working lives. When thinking about life after retirement, housing in the (imaginary) agrivillage was the most popular choice. Although a large number of farmworkers are ignorant about the government's housing subsidy scheme, the majority is clear about one thing: they would like to own their own dwelling - whether on the farm or outside the "white gates", because the own house is the route to less vulnerability, more independence and security. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie ondersoek is om die persepsies en voorkeure van plaaswerkers, woonagtig op plase in die Devonvallei/ Stellenboschkloof ("Devonkloor) area, met betrekking tot huiseienaarskap te ondersoek. 'n Ondersoek soos hierdie is vir meer as een rede belangrik: In Suid-Afrika is die instelling van "gekoppelde behuising" op plase waarskynlik die faktor wat die meeste bydra tot plaaswerkers se afhanklikheid van plaaseienaars en laasgenoemde se kontrole oor die werker en sy gesin. Hierdie kwesbaarheid van plaaswerkers is in die afgelope aantal jare versterk deurdat plaaseienaars, in veral die Wes-Kaap, 'n meer "besigheidsgeoriemteerde" houding rakende plaaswerkerbehuising ingeneem het. Daar word verwys na die "produktiewe huis" in die sin dat daar van alle geskikte inwoners van die huis verwag word om hulself beskikbaar te stel vir diens op die plaas, veral gedurende oestye. Hierdie mense (en veral vroue) word op hierdie manier die geleentheid van 'n permanente, beter betalende betrekking buite die plaas ontneem. Hierdeur word die "menslike" sy van paternalisme toenemend afgeskaal. Vir die eerste keer in Suid-Afrikaanse geskiedenis bestaan daar egter nou die geleentheid om hierdie afhanklikheid te verbreek of ten minste te verminder. Dit is die resultaat van 'n verskeidenheid van faktore waarvan die belangrikste die regering se nuwe subsidieskema vir plaaswerkers is. Laasgenoemde kom daarop neer dat plaaswerkers vir 'n bedrag van R 15 000 by die Departement van Grondsake aansoek kan doen ten einde 'n huis of grond te bekom. 'n Ander onlangse verwikkeling wat plaaswerkers se afhanklikheid verminder, is die konsepwetgewing rakende die sekerheid van besitreg. Dit gee veral vir ouer plaaswerkers sekuriteit van verblyf op die plaas waar hulle vir tien jaar of !anger gewerk het. Oat plaaswerkers bekommerd is oor hul heenkome by aftrede en graag oor woon-sekuriteit wil beskik, is nie 'n geheim nie. Om hierdie behoefte egter effektief aan te spreek, moet finansie~l haalbare behuisingsalternatiewe uitgewerk word. So sou voorsorg-/pensioenskema uitbetalings byvoorbeeld met die regering se huissubsidie gekombineer kon word om eie titel vir werkers te bekom. Ewe belangrik vir die leefbaarheid van so 'n projek is dat plaaswerkers se houdings en voorkeure ten opsigte van behuising in ag geneem word. Om dit te peil, is die primere doel·van hierdie studie. Die eenheid van analise in hierdie studie is die huishoof (manlik of vroulik) wat op die plaas woon, in 'n permanente kontraktuele verhduding staan met die plaaseienaar en terselftertyd lid is van een van die Devonkloof se voorsorgfondse. 'n Ewekansige steekproef van 93 sulke plaaswerkers is getrek uit 'n totale populasie van 188 huishoofde, versprei oor 13 plase in die navorsingsgebied. Hierdie werkers se persepsies en voorkeure met betrekking tot behuising is tydens onderhoude op die basis van 'n semigestruktureerde vraelys gepeil. Die onderhoude is deur die navorser self en 'n aantal finalejaar Maatskaplike werk studente aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch gevoer. Die data wat op hierdie manier ingewin is, is deur middel van die SPSS statistiese pakket ontleed. Die sosio-ekonomiese profiel van die betrokke respondente wat in hierdie studie na vore kom, bevestig in 'n groot mate die bestaande beeld van permanente plaaswerkers in die Wes-Kaap: hulle is feitlik uitsluitlik manlik en Afrikaans. Hulle geletterdheidspeil is betreklik laag en hulle verdien meesal tussen R 1 00 - 150 kontant per week. Driekwart het nog nooit "hul" betrokke plaas verlaat vir ander werk nie en baie van die wat wel het, het bloot vir 'n wyle op 'n ander plaas gaan werk. Die meeste ken dus geen ander bestaan as die (neo-)paternalistiese leefwereld van die plaas nie. Die bekendheid van die plaasmilieu is een van die redes waarom net meer as 50% van werkers aangedui het dat hulle tydens hulle werkslewe graag op die plaas sou wou bly. By aftrede was die (denkbeeldige) landboudorpie of "agrivillage" die mees gewilde keuse. Alhoewel 'n groot aantal plaaswerkers onkundig is oor die post-apartheid regering se huissubsidieskema, bestaan daar in die meeste se bewussyn geen onduidelikheid oor een kwessie nie: hulle wil graag 'n woonplek besit, of dit nou op die plaas is of buite die "wit hekke"; want 'n eie huis is die pad na minder kwesbaarheid, meer onafhanklikheid en sekuriteit.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The provision of housing in South Africa is a national priority. As many of the aspirant homeowners are first-time homeowners, they are not necessarily informed about the pitfalls of home ownership. From April 1994 till March 2000 the Department of Housing approved more than 1,1 million housing subsidies. The recipients of these subsidies were first-time homeowners that did not possess the necessary knowledge and skills to make informed and responsible housing-related decisions, thus making them vulnerable to exploitation and creating complex problems that hamper the housing delivery process. The release of the National Housing Code during March 2000 announced that the South African Government had harnessed seven strategies that were aimed at providing housing to a growing low-income market that already exceeded two-and-a-half million households. Although the Government has attempted short-term solutions aimed at equipping these housing consumers with the necessary knowledge and skills to make informed and responsible housing-related decisions, initial research pointed to the need for a sustainable long-term solution in the form of education and training of the housing consumer. The aim of this research was three-fold: Firstly, to determine the knowledge and skills required by the housing consumer to be able to make informed and responsible housingrelated decisions. Secondly, to determine the status of housing education and training in the present primary and secondary school curriculums. Thirdly, to develop an outcomesbased model that would facilitate the inclusion of the identified and refined housing education and training content into the General Education and Training (GET) Band of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). A culturally diverse group of educators and practitioners participated in four national structured group meetings that were facilitated using the Nominal Group Technique (NGT). The aim of these meetings was to identify the knowledge and skills required by consumers to be able to make informed and responsible housing-related decisions. Sixteen housing education and training core concepts could be isolated using the responses generated during the meetings, namely: "Basic Housing Technology" (BHT), "Community" (COMM), "Cultural Aspects of Housing" (CAH), "Environment" (ENV), "Financial Aspects of Housing" (FAR), "Housing Consumerism" (HC), "Housing Design and Decoration" (HDD), "Housing Market" (HM), "Housing Needs" (HN), "Housing Policy" (HP), "Legal Aspects of Housing" (LAH), "Resource Management" (RM), "Role- Players in Housing" (RP), "Sources of Housing Information" (SRI), "Tenure Options" (TO) and "Types of Housing" (TH). The document analysis performed in the second phase of the research, revealed the paucity of housing education and training core concepts in the current curriculum of the GET and Further Education and Training (FET) Bands of the NQF. Housing education and training core concepts occurred in only 50% of the 318 core subject curriculums. Of the housing education and training core concepts that were present in these documents, less than 40% were rated as "relevant" and could therefore be used for housing education and training of the learners. An outcomes-based model was developed that can be used to facilitate the inclusion of the housing education and training content into the Foundation, Intermediate and Senior Phases of the GET Band using the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes, Learning Areas, Specific Outcomes, Assessment Criteria, Performance Indicators, Phase and Programme Organisers, currently included in the new curriculum. Outcomes were then developed that reflected the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values embedded in the sixteen housing education and training core concepts. The mastering of these 57 outcomes will reduce the ignorance of first time homeowners during the housing process and provide a sustainable, long-term solution to these problems . / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Behuisingsvoorsiening is 'n nasionale prioriteit in Suid-Afrika. Aangesien baie van die aspirant huiseienaars, eerstemaal-huiseienaars is, is hulle nie altyd bewus van die slaggate van huiseienaarskap nie. Vanaf April 1994 tot Maart 2000 het die Departement van Behuising meer as 1,1 miljoen behuisingsubsidies goedgekeur. Die ontvangers van hierdie behuisingsubsidies was eerstemaal-huiseienaars, en het nie die kennis en vaardigdhede besit wat benodig word om ingeligte en verantwoordelike behuisingsbesluite te neem nie. Daarom kan hulle blootgestel word aan uitbuiting, en is komplekse probleme veroorsaak wat die behuisingsvoorsieningsproses negatief beinvloed. Die vrystelling van die Nasionale Behuisingskode gedurende Maart 2000 het aangetoon dat die Suid-Afrikaanse Regering sewe strategiee sou gebruik om behuising aan die groeiende lae-inkomste behuisingsmark te voorsien, wat alreeds twee-en-'n-half miljoen huishoudings behels het. Die Regering het al korttermyn oplossings op die proef gestel wat daarop gemik is om behuisingsverbruikers met die nodige kennis en vaardigdhede toe te rus om ingeligte en verantwoordelike behuisingsbesluite te neem. Verkennende navorsing het getoon dat daar steeds 'n behoefte bestaan aan 'n langtermyn, volhoubare oplossing in die vorm van opvoeding en opleiding van die behuisingsverbruiker. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was drie-voudig: Eerstens, om te bepaal watter kennis en vaardighede die behuisingsverbruiker benodig om ingeligte en verantwoordelike behuisingsbesluite te kan maak. Tweedens, om die stand van behuisingsinhoud in die huidige primere- en sekondere skoolsillabus te ondersoek. Derdens, om 'n uitkomsgerigte model te ontwikkel wat die insluiting van die geidentifiseerde en verfynde behuisingsinhoud in die Algemene Onderwysvlak (AOV) van die Nasionale Kurrikulum Raamwerk (NKR) sal bewerkstellig. 'n Kultureel diverse groep, wat bestaan het uit opvoeders en behuisingspraktisyns, het deelgeneem aan vier nasionale gestruktureerde fokusgroeponderhoude wat deur middel van die Nominale Groeptegniek (NGT) gefasiliteer is. Die doel van hierdie onderhoude was om vaardigdhede wat deur die verbruiker benodig word om ingeligte en verantwoordelike behuisingsbesluite te neem, te identifiseer. Die inligting wat tydens hierdie fokusgroeponderhoude ingewin is, is gebruik om sestien kembehuisingskonsepte te identifiseer, naamlik "Basic Housing Technology" (BHT), "Community" (COMM), "Cultural Aspects of Housing" (CAH), "Environment" (ENV), "Financial Aspects of Housing" (FAH), "Housing Consumerism" (HC), "Housing Design and Decoration" (HDD), "Housing Market" (HM), "Housing needs" (HN), "Housing Policy" (HP), "Legal Aspects of Housing" (LAH), "Resource Management" (RM), "Role-players in Housing" (RP), "Sources of Housing Information" (SID), "Tenure Options" (TO) en "Types of Housing" (TH). Die dokumentanalise in die tweede fase van die navorsing, het die huidige, gebrekkige behuisingsopvoedingskomponent van die 'kemvakkurrikulums van laer- en hoerskole uitgewys. Slegs 50% van die 318 kemvakkurrikulums het behuisingskonsepte bevat. Minder as 40% van die behuisingskonsepte wat wel in hierdie kurrikulums verskyn het, is as "relevant" geevalueer, en kon dus gebruik word vir die behuisingsopvoeding van die leerders. 'n Model wat voldoen aan die vereistes van uitkomsgebaseerde onderwysmodelle is ontwikkel om die insluiting van hierdie behuingsinhoud in die Grondslag-, Intermediere >- en Senior Fases van die AOV te bewerkstellig. Daar is gebruik gemaak van bestaande kurrikulumkonstrulcte van Kurrikulum 2005. Uitkomste is ontwikkel wat die kennis, vaardigdhede, houdings en waardes, ingesluit in die kernkonsepte, weerspieel. Die '. bemeestering van hierdie 57 uitkomste, sal die onkunde van eerstemaal-huiseienaars gedurende die behuisingsproses verminder, asook 'n volhoubare, langtermyn oplossing vir hierdie probleme daarstel.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: 'Housing' has been addressed as a basic human right. In South Africa this right has become a challenge, which cannot be met by the government alone. It also requires a vast contribution from the broader non-State (private) sector. This includes large companies who need to provide housing assistance to their employees. The aim of this research was to develop an educational computer programme which can be used by companies in their employee housing assistance programmes. The objectives of the research included establishing the extent to which companies provide employee housing assistance; the viability of an educational computer programme; the requirements of companies; criteria and content of a computer programme; and the development and testing of a pilot demonstration module of an educational computer programme for employee housing assistance. Exploratory research was carried out on a sample of 112 companies by means of both postal and telephonic questionnaires. The results of these surveys indicated that 41 of these companies have already established employee housing assistance, providing general information on housing and housing related issues. Most of these companies, however, are only offering financial assistance to their employees without the necessary education and training which should accompany it. A programme which provides these aspects benefits both the company and the employees and should be implemented by many more institutions throughout the country. The main findings of this research, indicated the viability of an educational computer programme and the surveyed companies were positive about using it as part of their employee housing assistance. Throughout the world, computers have proved to offer high-quality interaction and unique learning opportunities to users of varying levels of understanding. They have also demonstrated that they are convenient to use and assist in promoting effective management of time and finances. On the basis of the responses to the survey, essential elements of an educational computer programme for the use of companies in employee housing assistance were identified. A pilot demonstration module was developed using a holistic and didactically sound approach. The development of this educational computer programme, will allow lower income employees to receive beneficial housing assistance at their own pace and level of comprehension and education through an enjoyable and contemporary medium. The results of the initial (but limited) testing of the pilot demonstration module, suggested that there is justification for the further development of the programme and for research to be carried out to examine its effect in the private sector. This research sheds light on the present trends in the provision of employee housing assistance in the private sector and the positive contribution which companies can provide to the housing crisis in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'Behuising' word as 'n basiese reg van die mens beskou. In Suid-Afrika het hierdie reg 'n uitdaging geword wat nie deur die regering alleen aanvaar kan word nie. Dit verg ook 'n groot bydrae van die breër gemeenskap, veral die privaatsektor, en dit sluit groot maatskappye wat behuisingshulp aan hulle werknemers behoort te verskaf, in. Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsingsprojek was om 'n opvoedkundige rekenaarprogram te ontwikkel wat deur maatskappye as deel van 'n behuisingsondersteuningsprogram aan hulle werknemers gebied kan word. Die doelwitte van die navorsing was onder meer om die mate waartoe maatskappye reeds behuisingsondersteuningsprogramme vir hulle werknemers aanbied, te bepaal. Verder is die lewensvatbaarheid van 'n opvoedkundige rekenaarprogram bepaal, asook die maatskappye se behoefte aan so 'n program. Daar is ook vasgestel wat maatskappye se menings oor die kriteria vir en inhoud van 'n opvoedkundige rekenaarprogram, wat as deel van hulle behuisingsondersteuningsprogram aan werknemers gebied kan word, is. Verkennende navorsing is onderneem met 'n steekproef van 112 maatskappye deur middel van telefoniese- en posvraelyste. Die resultate van hierdie vraelyste het aangedui dat 41 van die maatskappye reeds 'n behuisingsondersteuningsprogram aanbied wat algemene inligting oor behuising en behuisingsverwante aangeleenthede aan die werknemers verskaf. Die meeste van dié maatskappye, wat behuisingsondersteuningsprogramme aanbied, bied egter alleenlik finansiële hulp aan hulle werknemers, sonder die nodige meegaande opvoeding en opleiding. "n Program wat beide finansiële en opvoedkundige hulp aanbied kan maatskappye en werknemers tot voordeel strek en behoort landswyd deur baie meer inrigtings geïmplementeer te word. Die hoofbevindinge van die navorsing het getoon dat die opvoedkundige rekenaarprogram lewensvatbaar is, en die deelnemende maatskappye het bereidwilligheid getoon om so "n program as deel van hulle werknemers se behuisingsondersteuningsprogram in te sluit. Die ontwikkeling van die rekenaarprogram sal dit moontlik maak vir werknemers om op verskillende vlakke van begrip en opvoedingspeil, voordelige behuisingsondersteuning teen hulle eie tempo en deur middel van "n genotvolle en kontemporêre medium te kan ontvang. Dit is wêreldwyd bewys dat rekenaars hoë kwaliteit interaksie en unieke leergeleenthede op alle begripssvlakke kan bied. Daar is ook bewys gelewer dat rekenaars nie net gerieflik is nie, maar ook effektief met die bestuur van tyd en finansies is. Op grond van die vraelys resultate, is noodsaaklike elemente van 'n rekenaargebaseerde behuisingsondersteuningsprogram vir werknemers geïdentifiseer, en "n proefmodule ontwikkel wat gebruik maak van "n holistiese en didakties gesonde benadering. Die uitslae van die eerste (maar beperkte) toetsing van die proefmodule dui daarop dat daar regverdiging is vir die verdere ontwikkeling van die program asook vir navorsing om te bepaal wat die effek van so "n program op die privaatsektor sou wees. Hierdie navorsing het lig gewerp op huidige neigings in die verskaffing van behuisingsondersteuning aan werknemers in die privaatsektor, asook op die positiewe bydrae wat deur maatskappye gelewer kan word tot die oplossing van die behuisingkrisis in Suid-Afrika.

No description available.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Building / The increasing housing backlog in Gauteng has resulted in many challenges, amongst them a need in ensuring that there is a fair and transparent allocation of housing opportunities to communities. The City of Johannesburg is an accredited municipality and administers the housing process within its jurisdiction. The purpose for the accreditation of municipalities was to deal with the backlog and improve on housing delivery. The research examines the allocation process of Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses at the City of Johannesburg municipality. The study looked at the South African housing history, policies, and factors affecting the process with a view to highlight methods to improve the process. The qualitative approach to research was adopted in collecting data. Using the techniques of process mapping, data was collected through qualitative interviews and semi-structured questionnaires with key personnel at the municipality to develop a process map of the municipality’s allocation process. Through this process related issues contributing to backlogs and delays, and problems in the administration of the process were identified. Adopting a business process improvement tool could assist in improving the process and addressing the backlog issue. Keywords: Allocations, RDP houses, Processes, Backlogs and Business Process Improvement.

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Urban Design to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / Influenced by the thinking of the Garden City movement, gated and so-called lifestyle security estates have become overwhelmingly popular in many cities across the world. With demand fuelled by a combination of security concerns and a belief that such schemes provides enhanced efficiency and comfortability, these estates have come under severe scrutiny with regards to its apparent spatial and socio-economic impacts on the city structure as a whole. However, despite the severe criticism and awareness, these types of developments have showed very little signs of decline - thus perhaps illustrating a real economic rationale in the desire of people to reside in environments with higher perceptions of safety and control. Cities respond to this by clearly delineating urban development boundaries and even in some cases publish design principles that promote integration and inclusion. These more than often become contested by means of political- and private sector influences resulting in the perpetual realities of estate development and no real prohibiting actions and remedial recourse. Given these realities, what then does the future hold for our city landscape? Could we possibly reposition ourselves now to better the outcome later? Using Steyn City and Dainfern in the Fourways area, as two mega development case studies, this academic inquiry seeks to reflect on the status quo of estate developments and creatively find internal possible clues within the very structuring elements of such schemes that could potentially unlock and ‘un-gate’ developments and in the process improve access to opportunities in the city. This could surely not only provide new insights as to what the potential future can be, but it also provides the opportunity to redefine the ‘right to the city’ and opportunity in already deprived and isolated localities. / XL2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in the field of Public and Development Management, MM(P&DM), 2016 / The South African government has been faced over time with the triple challenges of inequality, poverty and unemployment. Social ills such as poverty and unemployment can lead to situations where low income earners or unemployed citizens are unable to afford decent housing and adequate living standards, resulting in people living in slum conditions or sub-standard housing conditions. The problem of insufficient housing is an international phenomenon from which South Africa is not exempt. South Africa promulgated the Housing White Paper (which includes provision for social housing) in 1994 in an attempt to deal with the challenges of the housing problem. The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP is a low-cost housing programme aimed at providing decent housing for poor citizens. The country continues to be challenged by an increase in the demand for housing. Research conducted on RDP housing revealed that there are a number of problems associated with the provision of RDP housing. These include the poor quality of many of the houses, lack of communication, and the duplication of functions of stakeholders. These challenges require government improvement in order to provide decent housing to citizens. / XL2018