4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Informal Settlements

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    The Impact of South Africa’s Response to Informal Settlements and Affordable Housing Development when compared to the responses adopted in Brazil and India
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mlotsa, Cebile; Biyela, Precious
    In South Africa, informal settlements are prevalent in all the major urban centers, including some long-established informal settlements, such as ones within Alexandria township in the City of Johannesburg, Nyanga in the City of Cape Town and Kennedy Road in the City of eThekwini. New informal settlements are continuing to develop across South Africa’s urban centers. Various policies and interventions have been implemented to address this phenomena. This study aimed to investigate the impact and effectiveness of South Africa’s policies and interventions on informal settlements and compared them to policies and interventions of India Brazil. The study begins with a literature review of the policies and strategies of the three countries alongside best practices recommended by international organizations such as UN-Habitat and the World Bank. The effectiveness of the policies was assessed, and the general issues that affect informal settlements globally were identified. Research questions were formulated based on the literature review to gain further insights into South Africa's response strategies. Semi-structured Interviews were conducted with three professionals working in organizations addressing informal settlements across different provinces, focusing on current strategies, their impact and effectiveness, and potential improvements. A field visit to Mahlakong informal settlement in Limpopo was also carried out which included interviews with two residents to understand challenges and interventions underway to address them. The study found some progressive policies and strategies underway in South Africa, such as the strong emphasis on participation and approval by residents of informal settlements when interventions are carried out, and incremental construction of infrastructure in informal settlements. The study also identified areas that if addressed can improve South Africa’s response to informal settlements, such as recognizing multi-storey inner city buildings as informal settlements, encouraging private developers to invest in affordable housing development, and diversifying tenure legalization option.
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    Investigation of Contamination of Community Groundwater Sources with Antibiotics in Informal Settlements of Kisumu, Kenya
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-09) Karimi, Kellen Joyce; Ahmad, Aijaz; Duse, Adriano; Mwanthi, Mutuku
    Antibiotics have been used to cure diseases, but there are growing concerns about the risk to human health caused by inadvertent exposure to low levels of antibiotics in the environment. Despite extensive reporting from the developed world on antibiotic pollution of groundwater, relatively little study has been conducted on antibiotic contamination of groundwater in the developing countries, particularly informal settlements. Antibiotic usage and misuse have long been seen as clinical events, with little understanding of the role of disposal in the development of environmentally induced resistance. Exposure pathways that contribute to groundwater contamination in informal settlements put residents at odds because they already face inequalities, such as a high disease burden exacerbated by antibiotic resistance; thus, proper antibiotic disposal is critical in protecting human and environmental health. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to establish the prevalence of groundwater contamination with the common antibiotics’ such as sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and metronidazole, and the related antibiotic resistance and the human health risk of exposure. Ethical clearance to conduct research was obtained from three institutions as follows: - the Health Research Ethic Committee of the university of the Witwatersrand (HREC. Protocol Number M190412); the Kenyatta National Hospital and University of Nairobi Ethics and Research Committee (KNH/UoN-ERC. Ref No. P71910/2018); and the National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation (Ref No. NACOSTI/P/19/3232/28732). Each respondent gave informed consent to participate in the study. Anonymity was maintained at all levels of the study to protect the study participants from identification. Antibiotic use, which is connected to antibiotic disposal, was evaluated in a random sample of 447 families. From the 188 mapped groundwater sources, a random sample of 49 groundwater sources was chosen, and water samples were taken for antibiotic concentration analysis utilising a solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography coupled to magnetic sector high resolution mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS). The Kirky-Bauber diffusion method was used to test antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli. The community's potential groundwater contamination routes were assessed by determining antibiotic use and disposal among households as well as assessing the environmental risk of exposure. In the households visited, 75% (n=337) were female and 25% (n=110) were male. The prevalence of antibiotic use in informal settlements was 43% (n=193), with 70% (n=137) users reporting that they obtained the antibiotics through a prescription from a health practitioner. A significant relationship was observed between having HIV/AIDS and acquiring antibiotics through a prescription; p=0.001. An association was also observed among the informal settlements, where a lower number of MNY B dwellers did not receive a prescription for the antibiotics acquired. There was no statistically significant difference in antibiotic use between males and females; odds ratio=1.33; whereas there was a difference in HIV/AIDS status; odds ratio=0.313; and among informal settlements where the odds of using antibiotics were reduced in NY B; odds ratio=0.42. Respondents who used antibiotics either kept the unused antibiotics for future use 87.1% (n=27) or disposed them. Among the disposals 51.6% (n=16) disposed in pit latrines, 16.1% (n=5) dispose in compost pits, and 6.5% (n=2) dispose the remaining antibiotics by burning. Females completed their antibiotic doses at a higher rate (36.3%; n=117) than males (32.5%; n=39). Significant difference was observed in completion rate among the HIV/AIDS positive and negative respondents as well as among informal settlements; p<0.000 and p=0.001 respectively. On the other hand, groundwater use in these communities is widespread. Respondents used it for a variety of purposes, including drinking (9%; n=39), though they declined to report. Awareness of the health consequences of drinking antibiotic-contaminated water was also low (35%; n=158), especially among households that reported antibiotic use; p=0.003. Only Sulfamethoxazole was detected in 7 out of 49 groundwater samples at a detection frequency of 14.3%; with concentrations ranging from nd to 258 ng/L. Escherichia coli and Cryptosporidium parvum were isolated from all the 49 water samples and E. coli isolates from 3 (6%) water samples were resistant to sulfamethoxazole with Inhibition Zone Diameters of 0.8 mm, 10.5 mm, and 11.5 mm. The 3 water samples were however not among samples where sulfamethoxazole was detected. The Hazard Quotient was 0 (zero), and therefore no risk of exposure to sulfamethoxazole in the environment, but the level of antibiotics that trigger antibiotic resistance is not known. Because of the rising problem of antibiotic resistance due to overuse and incorrect disposal, teaching on safe antibiotic prescription should be incorporated into medical training for all cadres. In addition to educating patients on proper use and disposal, the ministries of health should ensure the antimicrobial stewardship standards are adhered to both locally and worldwide. Follow-up research of antibiotic resistance discovered in three groundwater sources must be done to eliminate the possible sources and prevent further spread. This study is instrumental in informing the inclusion of antibiotics on the list of frequently monitored contaminants during water treatment, as well as serving as a starting point for antibiotic surveillance in Kenya.
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    Exploring the effect of spatial planning in delivering access to socio-economic opportunities to address spatial inequality - The case of the Tswaing Mega Project and the Marikana-Soutpan community
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-02) Malope, Kgomotso Mirriam; Izar, Priscila
    South Africa is challenged by persistent spatial inequality inherited from previous regimes, which contributes to various socio-economic challenges and hinders the sustainable development of urban areas. Consequently, poverty tends to be more severe in previously marginalised areas where poor residents, the majority of them being black, still suffer from a lack of proximity to adequate socio-economic opportunities (Harrison & Todes, 2013). Several urban and spatial policies have been adopted and implemented, but spatial fragmentation persists. The Department of Human Settlements proposed adopting Mega Projects to develop large-scale, new housing projects integrated with infrastructure, in greenfield sites which are located in urban peripheries. Mega Projects also aim at attracting private sector investment. However, this strategy has been criticised for disregarding planning ideals of compactness and integration with existing economic centres and job opportunities, and for putting forward plans that lack details (Ballard, 2017; Turok, 2015). Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate how spatial planning and infrastructure investment could be used to promote access to socio-economic opportunities for marginalised people in spatially fragmented urban areas by focusing on the case of the Tswaing Mega-Project in the Marikana-Soutpan community in the periphery of the City of Tshwane. Unlike other Mega Projects designed on vacant land, the Tswaing Mega Project covers an already existing informal area, the Marikana-Soutpan informal settlement. Qualitative research methods informed the research, drawing from three types of primary and secondary data: (1) qualitative interviews, (2) documentation review and (3) participant observation. Research findings describe how the Tswaing Mega Project plan, launched in 2015, experienced delays and was eventually cancelled, with the adoption of the Upgrading of Informal Settlement Programme (UISP) in October 2022. Additionally, the long waiting period for government intervention and the lack of transparency from the government have proven to worsen the state of marginalisation for the Marikana-Soutpan Community. At the completion of this research project, the Marikana-Soutpan community is in for another, possibly long, waiting period as the UISP initiates. Therefore, this research speaks to the analysis that is critical of Mega Projects for offering poorly detailed project plans, lacking transparency, and lacking consideration of the complexities of human settlement development. Based on the findings, it is argued that the now-revoked Tswaing Mega Project has contributed to the further marginalisation of the Marikana-Soutpan community.
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    Disaster preparedness and mitigation in informal settlements: community and municipal roles in the case of Stjwetla in Alexandra, Johannesburg.
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2020) Ngove, Pheni; Huchzermeyer, Marie
    This study looked into the extent of coordination between municipalities and communities in preparing for and mitigating disasters. Using qualitative methods in key informant inter­ views, it compiled a case study of Stjwetla informal settlement in Alexandra, Johannesburg. The study was motivated by the fact that despite South Africa having been one of the first countries in Africa to adopt legislation on Disaster Risk Management (DRM), and despite the legislation having been praised as significant and progressive, the response to disasters on the ground has been characterised by reactionary rather that proactive measures. As such, the study identified the gap between what the DRM legislation sought to achieve and what transpires on the ground. The findings of this study suggest that collaboration between com­ munities, municipal officials and non-governmental organisation plays a huge role in disaster and risk management in Informal settlements.