Urbanisation in South African cities is a worrying phenomenon. Cities such as the City of Johannesburg are faced with a severe housing backlog. This situation could be attributed to many issues such as lack of suitable land for housing, and the existence of informal settlements. This study has been undertaken to investigate whether the interventions implemented by City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality to eradicate informal settlements are effective in addressing challenges faced by informal settlement dwellers. In South Africa, informal settlement upgrading process is acknowledged as an effective means of eradicating informal settlements. In this regard, interventions to eradicate informal settlements require extensive research in order to have proposals for future policy interventions. This study has been also undertaken to make some recommendations that might resolve the challenges of informal settlements in the City of Johannesburg. / Public Administration & Management / M.P.A.

Urbanisation in South African cities is a worrying phenomenon. Cities such as the City of Johannesburg are faced with a severe housing backlog. This situation could be attributed to many issues such as lack of suitable land for housing, and the existence of informal settlements. This study has been undertaken to investigate whether the interventions implemented by City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality to eradicate informal settlements are effective in addressing challenges faced by informal settlement dwellers. In South Africa, informal settlement upgrading process is acknowledged as an effective means of eradicating informal settlements. In this regard, interventions to eradicate informal settlements require extensive research in order to have proposals for future policy interventions. This study has been also undertaken to make some recommendations that might resolve the challenges of informal settlements in the City of Johannesburg. / Public Administration and Management / M.A. (Public Administration)

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 premise of the research concerns negative spatial legacies and questions doubting the existence of the true post-apartheid city in South Africa. The study describes the socio-spatial structure of the functional urban core of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM). An empirical analysis, a unique segregation-desegregation classification, a relative socio-economic classification and three continuity-discontinuity hypotheses was used to compare past and present socio-spatial characteristics. Structural racial-residential segregation is evident along with high levels of socio-economic inequality. Spatial polarisation of societal attributes has created a clear north-west and south-east divide in the study area. The study area is described as one with a central-south citadel (inhabited by the wealthy) and a dynamic periphery (diverse but relatively deprived). Current socio-spatial characteristics can be attributed to strong spatial legacies, ineffective policy interventions and underlying socio-spatial influences that inhibit true inclusivity and equality in the study area. / Geography / M. Sc. (Geography)

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 premise of the research concerns negative spatial legacies and questions doubting the existence of the true post-apartheid city in South Africa. The study describes the socio-spatial structure of the functional urban core of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM). An empirical analysis, a unique segregation-desegregation classification, a relative socio-economic classification and three continuity-discontinuity hypotheses was used to compare past and present socio-spatial characteristics. Structural racial-residential segregation is evident along with high levels of socio-economic inequality. Spatial polarisation of societal attributes has created a clear north-west and south-east divide in the study area. The study area is described as one with a central-south citadel (inhabited by the wealthy) and a dynamic periphery (diverse but relatively deprived). Current socio-spatial characteristics can be attributed to strong spatial legacies, ineffective policy interventions and underlying socio-spatial influences that inhibit true inclusivity and equality in the study area. / Geography / M. Sc. (Geography)

This thesis attempts to understand the concepts of social capital and social networks within the South African government’s current policy on “human settlements”. It considers the association between social networks, social capital and social cohesion, community development and improved general quality of life. The thesis also explores the possibility and challenges of using social capital and social networks amongst low income urban communities as a viable strategy against poverty and for the development of sustainable human settlements. The thesis will examine the nature and form in which informal social networks function in a low income urban community in South Africa and the benefits that arise from these. The thesis particularly looked at informal social security networks in the form of savings clubs/stokvels and burial societies as well as other informal social networks such as religious associations and neighbourhood social support groups. The study discovered that in light of the high unemployment rate, high poverty levels and increasing urban economic pressures, most low income households cannot access or rely on social networks as a means of survival but on grants and wages. Social security networks are only accessible to those who can afford monthly membership contributions thereby excluding the poorest of the poor. For those who can afford to be members of social security networks, the benefits are limited and they do not adequately address household needs. The study also showed how those who cannot afford to be members of social security networks still have access to some sort of communal social support. Neighbours stand out as valuable in this regard. However, the casual neighbourhood support networks are not ‘resource rich’ mainly due to, the inability of people to donate and reciprocate. Religious networks are mainly identified with emotional, psychological and spiritual well-being, providing friendship, comfort and advice but these benefits are only provided to members only in their time of need. The theoretical understanding of social networks producing social capital which is seen as being beneficial to the poorest of the poor is questioned, as the results show the inequalities and divisions that exist within informal social networks themselves. On the other hand, all the social networks considered in this thesis have managed to contribute towards strengthening neighbourly relations, trust, building community identity and promoting values of ubuntu- sharing and caring for one another which in the long-run benefits the community, both members and non-members alike.

The persistence and enormity of the housing backlog facing the poorest of the poor is an indication of the gravity of the housing crisis in Gauteng. The challenge exists despite government efforts to provide low-cost housing and formalize informal settlements. Against the background of this persistent need, this study investigates the City of Tshwane Municipality’s response to informal settlements in Mamelodi Phase 3, Gauteng. Participants from Mamelodi Phase 3 and officials from the City of Tshwane Municipality were purposively sampled. Research findings indicated that informal settlements in Mamelodi are caused by various factors, which include movement from rural to urban areas, movement from other provinces to Gauteng and natural population growth. Furthermore, the persistence of the informal settlements is caused by poverty. Most people continue to live in informal settlements since they cannot access financial assistance from the banks as per the National Credit Regulation (NCR). Corruption is also a formidable problem as some informal settlement dwellers alleged that officials of the City of Tshwane Municipality allocated houses in contravention of set procedures. This research shows that the City of Tshwane’s informal upgrading policies have failed in terms of providing adequate housing. Further, the housing policy has not succeeded in creating long-term sustainability in the delivery of low-cost housing to deal with the problems of the informal settlements. Although the City of Tshwane has implemented the Re aga Tshwane, which involves a wide range of policies, programmes and strategies to address the developmental challenges facing dwellers in informal settlements, more is required. On this basis, it is recommended that proper consultation with the community should be held to improve the lives of people in informal settlements in line with Section 26 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996), regarding every person’s right to have access to adequate housing. / Public Administration and Management / M.B.A. (Public Administration)