An analysis of public rental housing provision and its effects on livelihoods of low income residents: a case study of Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

The provision and management of public rental housing in South Africa has been failing to cope with the increasing housing demand for low-income residents. At the attainment of democracy in 1994, the ANC government adopted the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) which sought to reverse and address the past injustices of the apartheid system (Burgoyne, 2008). In housing, the programme led to the delivery of packaged mass housing units with secure tenure, water supply, sanitation and electricity (Charlton & Kihato, 2006). Rental housing provision was not considered as a priority despite its potential to lower housing demand in an ever-growing city due to processes of urbanisation and migration. Among scholarly circles, rental housing is seen as solution to the housing crisis bedevilling many cities of the South (Tissington, 2011) since it also has the potential of creating flexibility, mobility and affordability for poor households (Melzer & Moothilal, 2008). Lack of adequate rental housing can be detrimental to the livelihood options for low-income households. It follows from this that, while this study unpacked the extent to which rental housing is provided, it also sought to interrogate its effects on the livelihoods of low-income residents. The research adopted a case study research design and focused on the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Through adopting the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (DFID, 2009), the study established the extent to which rental housing can contribute to livelihoods of low-income residents. The study employed a qualitative research methodology. It envisages that, where enough support in terms of infrastructure and institutional capacity are provided, affordable rental housing can be a viable solution to mitigating and improving the livelihoods of vulnerable families