Insufficient and inadequate housing for the urban poor has a long history in South Africa, as in other African cities. Nearly one-fifth of urban households in South Africa reside in an informal dwelling. While most live in informal settlements, significant proportions have erected informal structures (essentially ‘shacks’) in the backyard of another property, a distinctly South African phenomenon. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category
Augmented informality: South Africa’s backyard dwellings as a by-product of formal housing policies
Monday, August 24th, 2009News Article: N2 officials asked to return money or else
Friday, August 7th, 2009At least two former top City of Cape Town officials involved in authorising a R12-million contract for an IT company to manage the N2 Gateway project could be prosecuted for their “negligence” and “wasteful expenditure” – three years after leaving the city council. (more…)
CCT Media Release – Millions of rands lost in repairs in informal settlements
Thursday, August 6th, 2009Over the past year, the City of Cape Town spent more than R80 million on repairing or replacing stolen or vandalised basic services in informal settlements.
“For every R3 that the City spends of its R125 million annual budget for water and sanitation facilities in informal settlements, R2 is spent on repairs and replacements,” says Alderman Clive Justus, Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services.