The creation of sustainable human settlement through informal settlement upgrading: the case of Ivory Park, Johannesburg
Date
2010
Authors
Nethavhakone, Mukondi Esther
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Abstract
The states that participated at the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements
(Habitat 11), held in Istanbul, Turkey from 3 to 14 June 1996, adopted Habitat Agenda which
binds them to the pledge to achieve sustainable human settlements. South Africa, as one of the
countries that adopted Habitat Agenda, raised the need to investigate if the adoption of Habitat
Agenda in South Africa led to the creation of sustainable human settlements. From the Habitat II
it was established that sustainable human settlements can be achieved through informal
settlements upgrading. Therefore, this research investigates whether the creation of sustainable
human settlements is achieved through the informal settlements upgrading in South Africa, using
the case study oflvory Park, Johannesburg.
To undertake this investigation a qualitative research method was utilized, whereby the
researcher investigates the object of the case study in depth using a variety of data gathering
methods to answer research questions. To gather data, three research tools were used namely; in depth interviews, observations and document study. In-depth interviews were conducted with
Ivory Park councilors and data from documents and observations were used to support
information gathered from interviews.
The key finding in this research is that the upgrading process oflvory Park did not lead to the
creation of a sustainable human settlement. This is because all elements for the creation of
sustainable human settlements have not been fully addressed through the upgrading process of
Ivory Park. Many reasons contribute to this situation, however, in the literature it has been stated
that the achievement of a sustainable human settlement requires that all elements for the creation
of sustainable human settlements are met. However, the informal settlements intervention
approach adopted in the upgrading oflvory Park namely 'phased in situ' upgrading approach
provides for the achievement of sustainable human settlements. The process of upgrading Ivory
Park is slow and it is delaying the transformation to sustainable human settlement. Therefore, the
conclusion is that Ivory Park is not yet a sustainable human settlement and if they continue with
the same informal settlements intervention approach it will eventually become a sustainable human settlement.
Description
A research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science in Development Planning. to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University
of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2009