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 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 The impact of moving from an informal settlement to a formal settlement on life satisfaction: a difference in difference analysis(2018) Ngqotheni, SinakhokonkeThe aim of study was to trace the life satisfaction of three different groups over four periods of time. The study investigates the impact of moving from an informal settlement to a formal settlement on life satisfaction. Three groups were studied, namely, the treated group, government housing dwellers and private dwellers. The life satisfaction of the three groups is traced using the following five econometric models; Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (POLS), fixed effects, difference in difference (DID), ordinal logit and propensity score matching (PSM). The study results show that the life satisfaction of the government housing dwellers diminished after moving to government housing and was significant throughout DID, ordinal logit and PSM. The private dwellers demonstrated a negative relationship with life satisfaction for the OLS and fixed effects models, DID, nonlinear logit and PSM reported positive with coefficients. The paper found that the location, scale and size of the government houses played an important role in determining life satisfaction.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.