The efficacy of government strategies towards improving informal settlements in Rustenburg local municipality

It is important to understand the propagation of informal settlements. They do not only represent the high housing demand but also its effects on the development and transformation of South Africa if remaining unimproved. Several studies divulge that informal settlements do not only serve as a solution to the government’s failures to provide housing to the people, but they serve as a shelter to the homeless and urban poor. Although certain housing interventions and programmes have been implemented to improve informal settlements, most informal settlements (Rustenburg and across South Africa) still lack access to basic services. According to this study a divergence exists in the literature in determining the efficacy of strategies to improve informal settlements, regardless of years of studies conducted in informal settlements. This study aimed to analyse the efficacy of local government strategies towards improving informal settlements in Rustenburg Local Municipality. A qualitative approach was employed to conduct this investigation. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were implemented as an instrument to collect data. This research, therefore, investigated the settlements demographics, background, and strategies to improve informal settlements. It also reveals the challenges of informal settlements encountered by the settlement dwellers and the municipality, community participation, and the relationship between the municipality and the informal communities. The study findings indicate that the strategies implemented to improve informal settlements are ineffective; this was evident from the responses of participants who indicated that these settlements lack access to basic services. The lack of access to basic services in these settlements is a reflection of ineffective strategies. The concluding Chapter 5 comprises study recommendations

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Zululand

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Sishawu, Rose Unathi

• Informal settlements, Government strategies, Rustenburg local Municipality

Licence

• https://devspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstreams/33b964a1-37a1-48d7-aca7-8e89aaeeede1/download