Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The provision of low-cost housing constitutes one of South Africa's biggest challenges. As a result, high density residential development, amid an ever increasing urban population in South Africa, is seen as the answer to address the housing problems by the authorities. The concept of densification presupposes, upon its implementation, the advantages of promoting an integrated urban system, more economical use of land, a better quality of life for the recipients, containing urban sprawl and the protection of the agricultural and natural resources. However, the application of the concept of high density development in low-cost housing has been criticised for failing to fulfil its main objectives which are intended to better the lives of the people. The hypothesis is that the concept of densification may impact negatively on the quality of family living. As a result, the main objective of this study is to seek statistical data which is related to quality of family living and to uncover the views and experiences of household members. To achieve this objective, a questionnaire, interviews and literature-based research method was adopted in this study. In addition, built housing models complemented the questionnaire. Since part of the government's high density development strategy is to expand the existing townships, the Langa township in the Western Province was chosen to conduct the study. The findings of this study revealed that the application of the concept of high density development in Langa has resulted in situations of overcrowding and noise, a lack of privacy, smaller housing structures and erven, a lack of space for children to play and adults to socialise and regular clashes between the residents and the authorities regarding these issues. Therefore, the hypothesis that although densification may have resulted in more housing units being built whilst at the same time impacting negatively on the quality of family living has been proven to be true by this study. However, this study has revealed the fact that although there is nothing inherently wrong with the concept of densification, the problem lies with the manner in which the concept is applied in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die voorsiening van laekostebehuising vorm deel van Suid-Afrika se grootste uitdagings. Die resultaat is dat die ontwikkeling van woongebiede met hoë digthede deur die owerhede gesien word as een van die oplossings vir behuisingsprobleme van 'n steeds snelgroeiende stedelike bevolking. Met die toepassing van die konsep van verdigting word daar veronderstel dat die voordele van 'n geintegreerde stedelike stelsel, die ekonomiese gebruik van grond, beter lewensgehalte vir burgers, die beperking van stedelike uitgestrektheid en die beskerming van landbou- en natuurlike hulpbronne, verwesenlik sal word. Die toepassing van die konsep van verdigting in laekostebehuising word egter gekritiseer omdat dit tekortskiet in die primere doelwit wat daarop gemik is om die lewensgehalte van burgers te bevorder. Die hipotese is dat die konsep van verdigting gesinslewe en daarby die lewenskwaliteit van persone negatief kan beinvloed. Die doel van die studie is dus om statistiese data wat verband hou met die gehalte van gesinslewe , in te win ten einde sienswyses en ervarings van gesinne in laekoste woonbuurte te verwoord. Om hierdie doelwit te bereik, is 'n vraelys, onderhoude en 'n literatuurgebaseerde navorsingsmetode gevolg. Bykomende behuisingsmodelle het die vraelys gekomplementeer. Aangesien die regering se verdigtingstrategie vir ontwikkeling ten doel het om bestaande townships uit te brei, is Langa in die Wes-Kaap gekies as studiegebied. Die bevindinge van die studie toon aan dat die implementering van die konsep van die ontwikkeling van hoë digte, laekostebehuising oorbevolking en geraas, 'n gebrek aan privaatheid, kleiner huisstrukture en erwe, 'n gebrek aan speelplek vir kinders en onvoldoende plek vir volwassenes om te sosialiseer, teweeg gebring het - die toestande het tot gereelde botsings tussen die inwoners en owerhede gelei. Die studie bewys dus die hipotese dat hoewel verdigting tot die bou van meer behuisingseenhede gelei het, dit ook 'n negatiewe impak op die gehalte van gesinslewe meegebring het. Die studie bewys dat hoewel daar niks inherent met die konsep van verdigting verkeerd is nie, die probleem Iê in die manier waarop die konsep binne Suid-Afrika toegepas word.

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the past, the policy for the provision of low-cost housing was, by and large, ineffective because apartheid planning spatially and economically marginalised the majority. The disenfranchisement of the majority and social engineering denied this majority any access and voice in shaping, or influencing the shape, of their living environment. Today, there are various pieces of legislation that emphasise and highlight the importance of community participation in development planning. The concept of community participation has repeatedly appeared in the literature as an approach that empowers people to take control over their own lives. The involvement of people in all aspects of planning and development programmes that affect them is a fundamental requirement for sustainable development. Satisfying basic human needs in participatory, empowering and sustainable formats is the essence of development. The study is descriptive and issue-orientated, limiting itself to the understanding of the process of community participation and empowerment in low-cost housing. Interviews were conducted with 75 respondents from male- and female-headed households, using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study records how respondents participated in the shaping of their living environments, and the extent to which they were/felt empowered by the housing delivery process. The findings suggest that participation contributed to empowerment, and an overwhelming 91% of the sample were satisfied with their level of involvement in the project. The findings of the study further indicates that, although there had been some effort to involve the community as a whole, as well as individual members in the project, the level of involvement, particularly of individuals, was not satisfactory. Beneficiaries were given information regarding the housing development and were offered opportunities to participate, but their views were not taken into account during the design and implementation phases. The recommendations provide some insights on how low-income housing delivery can be made more participatory, empowering and sustainable. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die verlede was die beleid oor lae-kostebehuising oneffektief, omdat apartheidsbeplanning die meerderheid ruimtelik en ekonomies gemarginaliseer het. Die ontburgering en die ruimtelike manipulasie van rasse het die meerderheid enige toegang tot deelname in vorm, of beinvloeding van vorm, van hulle eie omgewing ontsê. Tans bestaan daar 'n verskeidenheid van wetgewing wat klem plaas op gemeenskapsdeelname in ontwikkelingsbeplanning en die belangrikheid daarvan beklemtoon. Die begrip gemeenskapsdeelname het verskeie kere in die literatuur voorgekom as 'n benadering wat mense bemagtig om verantwoordelikheid vir hulle eie lewens te neem. Die betrokkenheid van mense in alle aspekte van beplannings- en ontwikkelingsprogramme wat hulle raak is 'n fundamentele vereiste van volhoubare ontwikkeling. Die bevrediging van basiese menslike behoeftes binne 'n deelnemende, bemagtigende en volhoubare konteks, is die essensie van ontwikkeling. Die studie is beskrywend van aard en konteks qeorienteerd en word beperk tot 'n verstaan van gemeenskapsdeelname en bemagtiging in die voorsiening van laekostebehuising. Onderhoude is met 75 respondente van huishoudings waarvan of 'n man of 'n vrou aan die hoof gestaan het gevoer deur middel van 'n semigestruktureerde vraelys. Die studie meld hoe respondente deelgeneem het in die vorming van hul leef omgewing, en die mate waartoe die respondente bemagtig was/gevoel het deur die behuisings voorsienings proses. Die bevindinge suggereer dat deelname bygedra het tot bemagtiging, en dat 'n indrukwekkende 91% van die steekproef tevrede was met hul deelname aan die projek. Navorsing het verder gevind dat, alhoewel daar pogings aangewend is om die gemeenskap as 'n geheel, en individueel, te betrek, deelname onvoldoende was, veral op individuele vlak. Begunstigdes het inligting in verband met die ontwikkeling ontvang en is die geleentheid gebied om deel te neem, maar hul menings is nie in ag geneem tydens die ontwerp- en beplanningsfases nie. Die aanbevelings verskaf 'n paar insigte oor hoe die voorsiening van lae-koste behuising meer deelnemend, bemagtigend en volhoubaar gemaak kan word.

This research dissertation investigates the level of Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) housing delivery in Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District: Limpopo Province. The post-apartheid South African Constitution indicates that the provision of basic services like formal housing is a basic right for all South Africans. In Limpopo Province and in particular, Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District, there is still massive shortage of Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) housing for the poor, despite funding being made to address this need. Millions of poor families are suffering and are still living in shacks in informal settlements. There is a backlog in the provisioning of RDP housing delivery. Low cost housing projects have been identified in Limpopo Province to address the RDP housing delivery backlog. It takes time to complete RDP houses and the communities become impatient and frustrated. The quality of completed houses is often perceived to be of unacceptable standards. This study investigates the level of RDP housing delivery in Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District: Limpopo Province. This study also identifies the challenges of RDP housing delivery experienced by Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District: Limpopo Province. Recommendations with the view of resolving problems pertaining to Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District: Limpopo Province are made. The findings from this research work identified significant challenges of RDP housing delivery experienced by Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District: Limpopo Province which needs to be addressed. In its contribution, this study made recommendations with the view of resolving problems pertaining to Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District: Limpopo Province. This study in conclusion, emphasizes the need to address RDP housing backlogs and ensure that RDP houses are of good quality and that the government and all South Africans have to join hands and collectively address the problems of RDP housing delivery in South Africa.

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.

The study was undertaken to satisfy the following objectives of the research study: To determine the livelihoods of residents of a low income housing development;  To assess the role played by the local economic development initiatives in the Kuyga community; and  To make recommendations regarding policies and actions that could reduce the unemployment rate and create sustainable and viable livelihoods for the Kuyga community in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. To note, what triggered the researcher to undertake the study, are the high levels of unemployment, poverty and poor monitoring of the local economic initiatives within the area. In this study, the researcher explores the livelihoods of the Kuyga community and the opportunities for creating more sustainable and viable livelihoods. Attention is drawn to Government policies, Local economic Development as well as Integrated Development Plans of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, simultaneously realising that the South African government cannot work in isolation to deliver all the community needs effectively as expected.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Masters of Technology: Quality, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / There were several problems facing Reconstruction and Development Programmes (RDP) housing projects caused by contractors using unskilled labour, misuse of funds, fraudulent claims, contractors asking for additional money or having left site. The overall scope of projects had no plan and no clear definition, poor project management and there was a lack of strategies to improve the quality of projects. This study recommends that it is imperative that project team members involved in the management of RDP housing projects have the necessary skills and level of education to execute their duties. Moreover, the Department of Housing and Local Government (DHLG) should draft a policy on Quality Management Systems (QMS)/good practices in respect of its project scope of works so that all stakeholders conform to the set standards. The people who are due to benefit from this housing are left in a state of despair, confusion and loss of hope from Government promises, with a subsequent increase in informal settlements. The aim of the study was to investigate factors influencing the success rate of RDP housing in the Eastern Cape. This case study employed a quantitative approach to collect data. Questionnaires were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, namely, correlation t-test and Anova. The purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 50 respondents from the Department of Housing and Local Government (DHLG) in the Eastern Cape Province. The advantage of this sampling technique is to reduce data to an intelligible and interpretable form so that the relationship between research problems can be studied and tested and conclusions drawn. The DHLG could significantly improve the quality management of low-cost homes if it adopts the Project Alignment Model. / National Research Foundation

Thesis (MPhil (Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 1998. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the past the policy for the provision of low-cost housing was not very effective because the context of development planning was characterised by fragmentation, segregation and isolation from the targeted communities. The reasons for this are that these development programmes were not participatory and that they contributed to dependency rather than empowerment of communities. Selected case studies have shown that without the involvement of the community in planning and decision-making low-income housing projects cannot meet the needs and demands of the community for improvement in an effective and efficient way. One of the basic principles of The Reconstruction and Development Programme is that development projects should be people-driven. The policy framework clearly states that delivery systems in housing will depend upon community participation. This current study sought to determine whether delivery systems in low-income housing projects have made this paradigm shift - that they are participatory and need-driven. The study is descriptive and issue-oriented limiting itself to understanding the process of low-income housing provision to newly-urbanised Africans in Mfuleni, a peri-urban settlement in the Cape-Metropole. Interviews were conducted with 100 respondents male or female heads of households, using a semi-structured questionaire. The study gave respondents an opportunity to share their experiences regarding the process of community participation in housing provision.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The pivotal role played by public participation in a social context is often undermined by change agents or administrators of government projects. The role of public participation is documented in Chapter 10 of the Constitution (South Africa, 1996). It states that “… people`s needs must be responded to, and the public must be encouraged to participate in policy making”. Besides the Constitution (South Africa, 1996) there are also other legislative frameworks that enshrine the right to public participation. Some of these provisions are included in the White Paper on Local Government (South Africa, 1998c), the White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery (South Africa, 1997b), the Integrated Development Plans, and others. It has to be acknowledged that public participation is the fundamental element for the success of development projects geared towards the social upliftment of poor communities. Poor communities, by omission or commission, are often excluded from direct participation in social projects. This study was prompted by the lack of effective public participation in the RDP housing project in the Elias Motswaledi Local Municipality, where the project was used as a case study. Qualitative research methods, well-founded theories and a literature study were used to inform the study. Forty-nine (49) respondents were interviewed. By collecting and interpreting relevant data, the study was able to assess the extent of public participation that had taken place. The study then proceeded to make recommendations as to how the situation could have been handled and to formulate public participation model that would be context relevant to the area. Unfortunately, the Elias Motswaledi Local Municipality housing project is now a thing of the past and cannot be revisited. Fortunately, however, similar projects will be able to learn valuable lessons from this study in the future. Ultimately, the research illustrated that a strategy of comprehensive public participation that includes all project beneficiaries has to be well planned and well managed to promote and ensure the successful implementation of the project. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die rol wat deur publieke deelname gespeel moet word in die administrasie van regeringsprojekte word uit eengesit in Hoofstuk 10 van die Grondwet (Suid Afrika, 1996). Dit stipuleer da tdaar op mense se behoeftes gereageer moet word en dat die publiek aangemoedig moet word om deel te neem aan beleidsformulering. Behalwe die Grondwet (Suid Afrika, 1996) is daar ook ander wetgewende raamwerke wat die reg op publieke deelname bevestig. Sommige van hierdie bepalings is ingesluit in die Witskrif op Plaaslike Regering (Suid Afrika, 1998c), die Witskrif op Transformasie van Openbare Dienslewering (Suid Afrika, 1997b), die Geїntegreerde Ontwikkelings planne, ensovoorts. Dit moet ook erken word dat publieke deelname die basis vorm vir die sukses van ontwikkelings projekte wat gerig is op die sosiale bemagtiging van ons gemeenskappe. Openbare amptenare neem doelbewus nie altyd die belangrikheid van direkte deelname aan sosiale projekte in ag nie. Hierdie studie is juis aangespoor deur die afwesigheid van effektiewe publieke deelname in die HOP behuisings projekte in die Elias Motswaledi Munisipaliteit waar die Monsterlus HOP projek as `n gevalle studie gebruik is. Die studie maak gebruik van ‘n kwalitatiewe metode, gegronde teorie so wel as `n literatuur studie. Onderhoude is onderneem en nege-en-veertig (49) onderhoude is gevoer. Nadat die data versamel en geїnterpreteer is, het die studie die omvang van publieke deelname wat plaasgevind het geassesseer. Aanbevelings is gemaak oor hoe die oewerhede die situasie beter kon hanteer het, en ‘n publieke deelname model is geformuleer wat relevant tot die area is. Die nadeel is dat die Elias Motswaledi behuisings projek afgehandel is en uiteraard nie teruggedraai kan word nie. Die voordeel is egter dat toekomstige projekte deur die studie bevoordeel kan word. Die navorsing wys daarop dat publieke deelname strategieё wat alle rolspelers insluit, deeglik beplan en bestuur moet word, voor die aanvang van die projek sowel as gedurende die projek se implementering.

Thesis (MPhil (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / This study examines the issue of housing delivery in South Africa since the democratic elections in 1994. The case study of Fisantekraal, a low-income housing project situated close to Cape Town in the Western Cape, illustrates the challenges associated with housing delivery and allocation. The study illuminates the main issues associated with housing allocation and delivery, as well as how these processes were managed in the said housing project. The study is descriptive in nature and explores the relationship between housing policy and practice. The method of Policy Analysis for Sustainable Livelihoods was employed because it emphasises the significance of the processes that formulate and enlighten policy. Additionally, it places the spotlight on the livelihood priorities of vulnerable groups and the impact policies and institutions have on them in terms of accessibility to livelihoods assets, such as housing. The national housing policy is discussed as a response to the severe housing need experienced in South Africa, resulting from high population growth, smaller households, urbanisation and the Apartheid legacy. The key variables known to influence the rate of housing delivery such as financial constraints at local government level, under-spending due to capacity constraints, insufficient resource allocation and a lack of suitable land, are discussed in this regard.