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Evaluating the provision of low cost housing in the context of developmental local government : the case of Wesbank

Thesis (MAdmin)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African Constitution (1996), guarantees everyone access to adequate
housing, and obligates the State to take all reasonable legislative and other
measures, within its available resources, to achieve such right. This commitment
to housing stands in sharp contrast to the previous housing regime, which was
characterised by fragmented housing policy and administrative systems, unclear
role definitions and a lack of accountability. In addition, Section 152 of the
Constitution also sets out objectives for Local Government in the creation of
sustainable communities.
The new approach to housing saw the formation of the National Housing Forum
(NHF) in the early 1990's. The NHF, consisting of a broad range of stakeholders
in the State housing sector, sought to reach consensus on a new housing policy
and strategy for South Africa. That consensus eventually led to the adoption of
the White Paper on Housing (1994) and finally the promulgation of the Housing
c
Act (1997). Subject only to the Constitution, the latter would eventually become
the supreme law on housing in South Africa.
Fundamental to the new approach to housing, is the notion that the environment
in which a house is situated, is equally important as the house itself. As such,
emphasis is placed on the potential contribution of housing delivery in the
creation of sustainable communities. The concept of Development Local
Government is advanced as the key tool to achieving that ideal. This study traces the evolution of the historical, policy and legislative contexts of
housing in South Africa during the transition period (1990 -1994) and beyond,
and evaluates the provision of low-cost housing in the context of Developmental
Local Government. This is done by way of a case study of the Wesbank housing
development in the Oostenberg region of the City of Cape Town. The question is
raised whether the Wesbank housing development adheres to the principles of a
sustainable housing development as prescribed by the Housing Act (1997) and
Developmental Local Government.
The study concludes that, based on a "narrow" and "broad" interpretation of
"sustainable housing development" as defined in the Housing Act (1997), the
problem statements contain both elements of validity and invalidity. In terms of
the narrow interpretation, it is concluded that the Wesbank housing development
has delivered on some elements in the definition, while the broader definition
concluded that the development was less successful in achieving the desired
outcomes.
Regarding the planning process followed in Wesbank, it is concluded that the
notion of Integrated Development Planning has not been followed, there
appeared to be some level of political interference in the planning processes, the
process of community participation, which represents a crucial component of
lOP, was non-existent, and while funding was secured for the construction of
5147 dwellings, no timely provision was made for associated community facilities
such as schools, clinics, etc. More telling though, is the absence of any
meaningful community bonding in Wesbank
Finally, having considered the conclusions made, a number of recommendations
are offered in respect of improving the environment for the Wesbank community. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Grondwet van Suid-Afrika (1996), waarborg aan almal toegang tot voldoende
behuising, en verplig die Staat om alle redelike wetgewende en ander maatreëls,
binne hul beskikbare bronne te gebruik ten einde hierdie basiese reg te
verwesenlik. Hierdie verbintenis tot behuising staan in skrille kontras teenoor die
vorige behuisingsbedeling, wat gekenmerk was deur gefragmenteerde
behuisingsbeleid en administratiewe sisteme, onduidelike definisies en rol
uitklarings, en 'n gebrek aan aanspreeklikheid. Bykomend, stel Artikel 152 van
die Grondwet ook doelwitte vir plaaslike regering vir die daarstel van volhoubare
gemeenskappe.
Hierdie nuwe benadering tot behuising, het gelei tot die stigting van die
Nasionale Behuisingsforum (NBF) in die vroeë 1990's. Die NBF, bestaande uit 'n
breë groep belanghebbendes in die openbare behuisingsektor, was vasbeslote
om konsensus te bereik oor 'n nuwe behuisingsbeleid en strategie vir Suid-Afrika.
Sodanige konsensus het eventueel gelei tot die aanvaarding van die Witskrif op
Behuising (1994) en uiteindelik tot die afkondiging van die Behuisingswet (1997).
Onderworpe slegs aan die Grondwet, sou die Behuisingswet (1997) uiteindelik
die oorkoepelende wet op behuising in Suid Afrika word.
Fundamenteel tot hierdie nuwe benadering tot die voorsiening van behuising, is
die gedagte dat die omgewing waarin 'n huis geleë is, net so belangrik soos die
huis self is. As sodanig, word die potensiële bydrae van behuising tot die
lewering van volhoubare gemeenskappe, beklemtoon. Die konsep van
Ontwikkelingsgerigte Plaaslike Regering word voorgehou as sleutel gereedskap
tot die bereiking van sodanige ideaal. Hierdie studie volg die ontwikkeling van die historiese, beleids, en wetlike
konteks van behuising in Suid-Afrika gedurende die oorgangsfase (1990 - 1994)
en daarna, en evalueer die voorsiening van laekoste behuising in die konteks van
Ontwikkelingsgerigte Plaaslike Regering. Dit word gedoen by wyse van 'n
gevallestudie van die Wesbank behuisingsontwikkeling in die Oostenberg streek
van die Stad Kaapstad. In die finale instansie, word die vraag gestel of die
Wesbank ontwikkeling voldoen aan die beginsels van volhoubare ontwikkeling
soos voorgeskryf in die Behuisingswet (1997) en Ontwikkelingsgerigte Plaaslike
Regering.
Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat, gebaseer op beide 'n "eng" en "breë"
interpretasie van "volhoubare behuisingsontwikkeling", soos in die Behuisingswet
(1997) gedefinieer, die navorsingsvrae beide elemente van geldigheid sowel as
ongeldigheid bevat. Ingevolge die eng definisie, is die gevolgtrekking dat die
Wesbank behuisingsontwikkeling wel aan sommige elemente in die definisie
voldoen, terwyl die breër definisie bepaal dat die ontwikkeling minder suksesvol
was in die bereiking van die beoogde uitkomste.
Met verwysing na die beplanningsproses wat in Wesbank gevolg is, is die
gevolgtrekking dat 'n Geïntegreerde Onwikkelingsproses (GOP) nie gevolg is nie,
daar sprake van 'n mate van politieke inmenging in die beplanningsproses was,
die proses van gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid, wat 'n kritieke komponent van GOP
verteenwoordig, afwesig was, en terwyl befondsing vir die konstruksie van 5147
wonings verkry is, geen tydige voorsiening gemaak is vir gepaardgaande
gemeenskapsfasilitieite soos skole, klinieke, ens. nie. Meer beduidend egter, is
die afwesigheid van enige mate van gemeenskapssamehorigheid in Wesbank.
Laastens, gegewe die gevolgtrekkings waartoe gekom is, word 'n aantal
aanbevelings gemaak ten einde die omgewing van die Wesbank gemeenskap te
verbeter.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52831
Date12 1900
CreatorsWyngaard, Deon A. C.
ContributorsTheron, F., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences. Dept. of Sustainable Development Planning & Management.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format148 p. : ill.
RightsStellenbosch University

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