The housing shortage in developing countries is one of the challenges of the 21st century. South Africa is no exception. This study has been undertaken to ensure that a bigger picture of this phenomenon can be understood. This study is also an attempt to understand whether governmental actions and interventions are near to addressing the challenges of homelessness for low-income households. In particular, the problem being investigated points to several issues which require extensive research towards possible proposals for future policy interventions. This means that the study takes interest in what the effects of the development and implementation of the national public housing policy in South Africa are. These effects need to be understood and identified for relevant conclusions and recommendations to be drawn. Further, the research problem has been broadened to understand the extent to which the effects of the Housing Act 107 of 1997 and the Gauteng Housing Act 6 of 1998 are conducive to addressing the public housing problems in the Gauteng Province. The literature review undertaken in this study shows that for South Africa, and particularly the Gauteng Province, to be more successful in addressing public housing problems, different approaches and interventions are necessary. This is due to the fact that most successful countries (especially Western countries) have allowed community organisations themselves, not only the government, to become actively involved in the provision of public and low-income housing. Other findings of this study are, inter alia, poor administrative capacities, shortage of land for housing development, housing affordability problems, and lack of sound intergovernmental relations systems. The main recommendation, on the basis of the findings, is that a constitutional review and amendment recommending public housing policy implementation to be the preserve of municipalities should be considered. Several additional recommendations include, inter alia, proposed changes in the hierarchical structures and the adoption of business models that could minimise red tape to improve the turn-around period for beneficiaries in the process of public housing provision in the Gauteng Province.

The housing shortage in developing countries is one of the challenges of the 21st century. South Africa is no exception. This study has been undertaken to ensure that a bigger picture of this phenomenon can be understood. This study is also an attempt to understand whether governmental actions and interventions are near to addressing the challenges of homelessness for low-income households. In particular, the problem being investigated points to several issues which require extensive research towards possible proposals for future policy interventions. This means that the study takes interest in what the effects of the development and implementation of the national public housing policy in South Africa are. These effects need to be understood and identified for relevant conclusions and recommendations to be drawn. Further, the research problem has been broadened to understand the extent to which the effects of the Housing Act 107 of 1997 and the Gauteng Housing Act 6 of 1998 are conducive to addressing the public housing problems in the Gauteng Province. The literature review undertaken in this study shows that for South Africa, and particularly the Gauteng Province, to be more successful in addressing public housing problems, different approaches and interventions are necessary. This is due to the fact that most successful countries (especially Western countries) have allowed community organisations themselves, not only the government, to become actively involved in the provision of public and low-income housing. Other findings of this study are, inter alia, poor administrative capacities, shortage of land for housing development, housing affordability problems, and lack of sound intergovernmental relations systems. The main recommendation, on the basis of the findings, is that a constitutional review and amendment recommending public housing policy implementation to be the preserve of municipalities should be considered. Several additional recommendations include, inter alia, proposed changes in the hierarchical structures and the adoption of business models that could minimise red tape to improve the turn-around period for beneficiaries in the process of public housing provision in the Gauteng Province.

South Africa has a social housing delivery problem, where, despite all mechanisms, efforts and resources (including policies, enabling legislation and social housing production inputs such as planning regimes, guidelines and strategies, funding, land, buildings and human resources put in place by the government), the pace of social housing delivery is not at a point where it is measurably satisfactory across all spheres of government. There exists between the three spheres of government an intergovernmental relations framework for implementing social housing policy. The performance of government shows a lack of institutionalized arrangements, coordination, and alignment in the day to-day operations of the three spheres of government in implementing social housing policy. It is for this reason that this study assessed the current intergovernmental relations operational system in the delivery of social housing units in Gauteng Province. A mixed-methods research approach was implemented for this study based in methodological pragmatism, phenomenology, and positivism. The researcher conducted interviews with senior managers and administered research questionnaires with operational staff within the National, Provincial and Local spheres of government which included City of Tshwane, City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan municipalities in Human Settlements Departments, state agencies involved in the delivery of social housing units such as the Social Housing Regulatory Authority and municipal entities such as the Housing Company Tshwane, the Johannesburg Social Housing Company and the Ekurhuleni Social Housing Company. Private and non-governmental social housing institutions, such as the Yeast City Housing and Mannapendlo Social Housing Organisation were also included. The data were complemented by documentary content analysis, including review of annual reports, strategic human settlements plans, policies and legislation pertaining to the provision of housing, human settlements, and social housing. This study assessed the functioning of the three spheres of government in relation to the implementation of social housing policy in Gauteng Province. The three spheres of government are regarded as equally important institutions for the development of sustainable human settlements, and a sound relation between the three spheres of government must be maintained in order to achieve successful development and management of social housing. The research found evidence of poor coordination and alignment, and no integration of social housing related activities and functions between the three spheres of government. There are major risks, such as financial risk, financial planning, and project implementation risks experienced at local government level. The study identified challenges faced by the three spheres of government and state agencies in the implementation of social housing policy in Gauteng Province. The challenges included slow release of land for social housing development, uncoordinated and unplanned social housing delivery in the province. In addition, the study identified other input factors that impact negatively on the supply of social housing units which cut across all spheres of government such as political mandates, legislation, policies, strategies, plans, targets, priorities, information technology and administrative and financial constraints. The study presented and recommended social housing delivery model for Gauteng Province. The proposed model has the probability of providing an understanding of the relations between government departments, state agencies, social housing institutions, intergovernmental relations structures at national, provincial and local government level, non-governmental organizations, and community based organizations, so as to ensure there is vertical and horizontal alignment to improve and fast track the delivery of social housing in Gauteng Province. / Public Administration and Management / D. Phil (Public Administration)