3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Contestations surrounding the upgrading of informal settlements in East London in South Africa(2020) Tindleni, Nomampondo Thembekile MarthaThe demand for adequate and affordable housing continues to grow unabated globally and South Africa is no exception. Currently, the global housing backlog is estimated to be at about 330 million households. The figure is forecasted to increase by more than 30% by 2025. This means than about 440 million households, or 1.6 billion people won’t have access to decent housing. In South Africa, the mushrooming of informal settlements reflects on the inability of the state to respond to the complex issues surrounding access to housing. While the government has attempted to address this situation through policies, it was only until recent that it took a positive approach to dealing with informal settlements. Through the comprehensive plan on human settlements, attention is paid on improving the lives of informal settlement dwellers with an emphasis on in situ upgrading process. Ironically, despite the allocation of a grant to upgrade informal settlements in Duncan Village under the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) for bulk services to the metropolitan municipality and Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) for top structures and social amenities, no remarkable improvements have been witnessed in this respect. The grant has since been returned to the Treasury while conditions on the ground do not reflect any positive change towards upgrading of informal settlements. This study therefore draws from these developments and investigated the underlying contestations surrounding the failure to upgrade informal settlements in Duncan Village. Information for this study was gathered through qualitative research methodology where both primary and secondary sources of data were employed. Unstructured face to face interviews shall were conducted with key informants (those with relevant information on the subject under study). Complementary information was gathered through observations and document analysis where documents such as housing policies and relevant literature were reviewed. The research unravelled that while the South African government seek to upgrade informal settlements through policies such as the ISUP, there is a mismatch between policy intentions and what transpires on the ground. One of the major themes coming out from this study is that officials who are tasked with foreseeing the upgrading of informal settlements are incompetent. The study further observed that failure to upgrade informal settlements in East London Duncan Village can mainly be attributed to power struggles that exist between the national and local governance. It is within these power dynamics that there is not enough engagement with local people when it comes to developing and implementing policies such as the ones on informal settlement upgrading. The study therefore recommends the need to align different government departments in order to tap in skills and expertise from relevant officials. There is also need to draw lessons from countries that successfully implemented projects on upgrading of informal settlements.Item Sustainable livelihoods and youth empowerment in informal settlements: the case of Lindelani informal settlement, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality(2019-09-26) Mabona, Rachel L.High unemployment rates of 38,2% of youth at age 15-34 in South Africa build substantial difficulties in young people’s ability to become self-reliant. The unemployment of youth remains the biggest challenge in South Africa making youth vulnerable to crime, drugs and violence. The challenges facing the youth call for urgent expansion of livelihood opportunities, through supportive interventions that are based on an understanding of their circumstances. Youth in informal settlements are particularly vulnerable to unemployment and poverty, ill health, and social exclusion and marginalisation than those living in better-located areas. They live in areas where they do not receive basic services. The environment the poor youth life inputs them in vulnerable situations. Informal settlements are prejudiced when it comes to youth support, job creation and policy interventions. Youth livelihoods in the informal settlements are not adequately addressed by research conducted on sustainable livelihoods. Research mainly is done on household and rural livelihoods. The main aim of this study is to understand the livelihoods of youth living in informal settlements as a basis for formulating interventions that are appropriate and well-targeted. By understanding the livelihood strategies and vulnerability of youth in informal settlements, interventions may stand a better chance of promoting poverty reduction, and social cohesion and improving their living conditions. Lindelani informal settlement situated in the urban periphery of Benoni Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality was selected as a case study because the area is not developed, people are living under bad conditions with limited basic services. Again, there is no research done on this informal settlement. This study adopted a qualitative approach to research in order to explore the experiences of the youth in informal settlements. In-depth interviews conducted with 15 young men and women aged 19-35 years to fully understand their livelihoods. The sustainable livelihood approach (SLA) suggested by Chambers and Conway (1992) was used as the framework for obtaining and analysing information about the current livelihoods of the youth. The SLA assists in assessing the different capitals or assets that underpin the livelihoods of the youth. For this study, the most significant forms of capital were human capital (i.e. issues of education, skills and health), financial capital (i.e. issues of income), physical capital (i.e. housing) and social capital (i.e. social relations and social networks). To succeed in fighting poverty, it is imperative that livelihoods remain sustainable and/ or be able to cope with and recover from stresses and shocks. In addition, the youth capabilities and assets must be enhanced or developed both now and, in the future, without undermining the natural resource 2 base strengthening the informal sector through skills development can provide employment to the youth and improve income for sustainable economic and social development and thus reducing poverty. The study found that the youth from Lindelani informal settlement are faced with multiple socio-economic challenges. In order to survive, they survived by involving themselves in informal activities, such as tuck-shop, crèche, hair salon, illegal mining, fixing bicycles, shoe repairing and other piece jobs like painting, tiling and lawn mowing. These informal activities are augmented with government support grants received by either parents and children, that is child support grants. While there are municipal programmes available they are not directed to the needs of those living in informal settlements. It is recommended that programmes designed to alleviate poverty and strengthen their self-esteem are necessary. The study recommended that in the absence of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) the youth leaders from different political organisations and the ward committee prepare a detailed understanding of the youth in Lindelani using the SLA in order to assist them appropriately. The youth in informal settlements need access to decent housing with better infrastructure and basic services, that are situated where economic opportunities are available.Item Demographic and economic determinants of housing demand in the Johannesburg metro(2019) Sebogoane, Nkgadi FrederickHousing forms a large part of household wealth and expenditure, it therefore follows that any change in housing markets, whether positive or negative, will have a direct impact on the wealth and expenditure of households. Numerous studies have researched housing demand for developed countries but applied research for developing countries is still relatively scarce, more so in South Africa. This study seeks to investigate the determinants of residential real estate demand in the Johannesburg metro. The research employs a mix of descriptive, correlation, and regression techniques, descriptive and correlation analyses are used to explore the basic features of the data that is used in the research. Regression techniques extend the descriptive and correlation analysis in estimating regression coefficients that measure how explanatory variables influencing housing demand, whether positively or negatively. The research found that, in the Johannesburg Metro context, after controlling for most of the variables in a housing model as we formulated and estimated, the effect of increasing the price at which exemption of transfer duty is applied is more effective in increasing housing demand in the low-income, middle- and high-income classes in that order.Item Understanding informal settlements in South Africa: the waterworks informal settlement profile and responses(2019-10) Nkoane, AdelaideUnderstanding the proliferation of informal settlements in South Africa is significant because they have been a feature of our landscape for many years and will continue to be in the future in spite of the attention given to the issue of housing by the government through various housing delivery interventions. Studies have indicated that informal settlements provide shelter for a large number of people who are the poor urban dwellers. There are gaps in literature that demonstrate the distinction between informal settlements within the South African context, despite years of research conducted on informal settlements. The differentiation of informal settlements contests the homogeneity of informal settlements that fall into groupings and sub-categories that require targeted interventions specific to their contexts. The Housing Development Agency (HDA, 2012) “is mandated to assist organs of State with the upgrading of informal settlements”. One of its key activities is to profile informal settlements, particularly in mining towns, in order to understand the data “relating to the number of informal settlements, profile of residents, length of stay, aspirations, income groups, education status” (HDA, 2012:12). Using this set of distinctions, this research aimed to understand the characteristics, dynamics and nature of the Waterworks informal settlement and where it lies within the bigger narrative of informal settlements. It therefore investigated the settlement’s demographics, history, the reason for its existence, how it is understood by its residents, how it is understood in relation to scholarly articles and how it could be understood through government plans.Item Analyzing the persistent nature of quality issues in low-cost housing projects(2018) Sibiya, Zandile AgnesThe primary objective of this research was to investigate the progressiveness of housing policies and strategies in addressing persistent quality defect challenges experienced in low cost housing projects delivered by the Department of Human Settlements (DHS). As low cost housing projects continue to dominate the South African housing market for low to middle income households and millions spent on rectifications, it was imperative to question why achieving defect-free housing project is such a challenge. Through employing mixed research methods, the researcher found that there has been a noticeable decrease in the frequency of defects due to the introduction of the NHBRC (project and home enrolment) process and the warranty scheme. However, common cases of non-enrolment and late enrolments of housing projects results in non-compliant houses and reinforce the persistence of the defective stock. Furthermore, it was found through the research that a large historical defective stock also remains, which forms the bulk of the defective stock that was accumulated prior to the introduction of the NHBRC warranty scheme and has proved difficult to eradicate due to budgetary constraints. In conclusion, the researcher argues that the delayed rectification of the defective stock and the persistence of quality management challenges continues to threaten the sustainability and viability of the entire Human Settlements programme. It is also clear that the regulatory role of the NHBRC in ensuring and enforcing quality compliance is being hampered by inefficient quality management processes caused by organizational and project management challenges of the DHS, which can be addressed by employing wholesome quality management systems such as TQM.Item Management of a manganese resource, Postmasburg manganese field(2018) Perold, JacquesThe primary objective of this research report is to qualify and quantify risks and benefits that may derive from the use of resistivity data when managing PMF manganese resources. To achieve this goal a 3D geological resource model of the project area were constructed using available geological and geochemical data. A second geoelectric resource model were constructed using the same data applied in the construction of the geological model and available resistivity data over the study area. Errors made (Mc Carthy, 2003) were identified by comparing differences in geological interpretation, resultant estimated stripping ratios and mineral resource estimates. For comparative purposes both models were adjusted by limiting their extent to an equivalent 3D modelling space. Vast differences resulted from the two modelling regimes employed. These differences relate to: The shape, position and orientation of the dolomite floor and associated pinnacles; Areas of mineralization and differentiation of areas with ferruginous and manganiferous alteration for the geoelectric model; Inability to delineate the ferruginous zone of alteration as a separate domain in the geological model, due to insufficient geological and chemical data; The shape, position and orientation of overlying quartzite; and The shape, position and orientation of the unaltered shale. The financial risks of not conducting resistivity surveys, when modelling manganese resources associated with the PMF, impact both exploration expenditure and profitability. The study estimated that, as the geological environment is challenging, exploration expenditure will increase by approximately 46.8% if resistivity surveys are not conducted prior to drilling. The increased expenditure is a direct consequence of inaccurate placing of boreholes, the large number of boreholes required to be drilled and the intensive sampling and analytical regimes needed. Over estimation of manganese resource reduce stripping ratios and resulted in the over estimation of gross profit by as much as 1.55 times for the geological model. This is clearly demonstrated by estimated differences in gross profit for lumpy ore of ZARm 408.640 for the geological and ZARm 263.571 for the geoelectric model resources. It is clear that, due to the complex depositional environment of the manganese deposits of the Western Belt of the Postmasburg Manganese Field, exploration regimes based on traditional drilling and sampling are limited, costly and produce results that are potentially very misleading. The addition of resistivity data clearly demonstrated vast changes in geological interpretation, resulting in substantial differences in mineral resource estimation and subsequent profitability.Item Challenges and opportunities in the management of social housing: a case study of Garena Rental Village, Polokwane Local Municipality(2018) Thifaneli, RakunamaSocial housing has become one of the most popular programmes for housing provision to urban communities in South Africa. There is an upsurge of evidence in South Africa that reveals that there are challenges related to management of the social housing stock. The succession of protests when tenants complain about poor maintenance of social housing as well as the protests against municipalities for cutting off basic services to nonpaying tenants is evidence of these challenges. In many cases there seem to be no clear role division between tenants and social housing institutions that are legally approved to manage social housing. Social housing institutions’ main functions, among others, are to promote the creation of quality living environments for low income residents and to inform residents on consumer rights and obligations in respect of the Social Housing Act of 2008. This study acknowledges that during the management of social housing stock there are challenges and also opportunities that come to the fore during the process. This is because one has to deal with people with various kinds of problems and different kinds of situations and this requires a well-coordinated and well organised management styles (SALGA and CMRA, 2012:21). This study aims to determine the challenges and opportunities existing in the management of social housing using the Garena Rental Village (GRV) case study in Polokwane Local Municipality. The research will further establish the extent to which housing institutions responsible for managing GRV, as well as the tenants are exercising their functions to ensure proper management of GRV. Consequently appropriate intervention strategies that can be used to help in managing GRV will be explored. The main research question explores the challenges and opportunities in the management of Social Housing stock. The research is expecting to discover the various challenges that social housing institutions encounter in managing social housing as well as challenges which tenants are faced with. Finally, the research will investigate such opportunities as exist in the management of Social Housing.Item The role of the private sector in providing gap housing in Johannesburg(2018) Coetzee, GerritSouth Africa has a significant housing shortage and even though the government has provided in excess of three million subsidised houses to beneficiaries since 1994, a shortage of 2.1 million units still exists. While households earning less than R3 500 qualify for a fully subsidised house, the most affordable newly built house on the market in Johannesburg is only affordable to households earning about R14 300. Therefore, a gap in the housing market exists between those too rich to qualify for a full housing subsidy and those too poor to access formal bonded housing. A partial subsidy, called the Finance-Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP), is available to households earning less than R15 000 to help them access housing in the formal market. Although private developers are developing houses affordable to households earning less than R15 000, uptake of the subsidy has been limited. Johannesburg has roughly 385 000 households in the gap market. This study seeks to establish what role the private sector currently plays in providing gap housing in Johannesburg. A qualitative study was done by interviewing various developers who are involved with gap housing developments, using semi-structured interviews and email correspondence. Furthermore, this study aims to establish what perceptions developers have of the market, what difficulties they face, what barriers exist to entering the market and how private companies help their employees in accessing gap housing. It was found that developers have a positive view of the market. Many echoed the view that the market in Johannesburg is vast, growing and that there are plentiful opportunities. There are, however, factors that make delivering less expensive houses more difficult. Bulk service contributions, especially, are becoming excessive, while the time taken to approve new townships can lead to unnecessary holding costs. Poor access to development finance is seen as prohibiting new developers from entering the market. Developers are aware of only a handful of private companies involved with assisting their employees to access gap housing. Although there are numerous gap housing developments in Johannesburg and many more planned, relatively few FLISP subsidies have been granted. These subsidies are tied to access to traditional mortgage finance. Fewer and fewer mortgages in the gap housing range have been given in recent years and if more houses are to be delivered, housing finance should be made more accessible to lower income earners.Item An appropriate management strategy for informal settlements in mining areas: the case of smashblock, Thabazimbi(2017) Siebe, PhathutshedzoThis research report is about the appropriate management strategy for informal settlement in mining area, the case of Smashblock, Thabazimbi local municipality situated in Limpopo province. The research seek to understand the main problem of the rapid growth of unplanned informal settlements that results in poor living conditions for the residents of Smashblock. However, the key objective of the study is to understand the options for management of the informal settlement in Smashblock. The research comes up with an appropriate intervention and management strategy for Smashblock informal settlement. The research has explored the Smashblock informal settlement with regard to its specific nature and character, the role played by Thabazimbi municipality, sector departments and mining companies or other entities; improvement, relocation and / or upgrading plan(s), the engagement of the municipality, mining companies and other sector departments with regard to the informal settlement and approaches to informal settlement improvement and management that are offered through national or local policy. The research recommends interim improvements of Smashblock prior to full upgrading, e.g. about re-blocking, health and safety improvements, improved management or access to current water provision and sanitation.Item Multiplicity: inner-city intyegration intervention(2017) Smith, MeghamThis design based research report aims to challenge the existing inner-city housing solution with the aim to redefine an integrated architectural model, which is socially, financially and sustainably realistic. The model design is directed at addressing the housing challenges South African cities are currently faced with, whilst considering a number of contextually relevant parameters. This prototype solution will fit into a facilitatory urban framework rather than the existing directive model. The design development will be informed by a brief generated in response to current financial, sustainable, social and political conditions and expectations. The Spatial Development Framework for the City of Cape Town has earmarked a number of innercity sites for housing development projects. These pieces of land are owned by the government and provide an opportunity to address the housing challenges previously mentioned. The aim of this research project is to develop a prototype model which could be applied to any of these ‘earmarked’ sites found in the SDF through a process of manipulation, to ensure each project is contextually suitable and responsive. For the purposes of application and demonstration, this model will be applied to the site of 355 Main Road, Sea point, Cape Town. The research report aims to better understand the ‘intelligence’ of the city by challenging the adaptability of its fabric, processes and systems at a number of scales.