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Howard College Campus - Durban
School of Built Environment and Development Studies in Housing
Bachelor of Social Sciences in Housing
MODULE : RESEARCH TECHNIQUES IN HOUSING
MODULE CODE : (HOUS303)
LECTURER : C. SUTHERLAND
NAME : DLAMINI MNL 213570908
DUE DATE : 24 NOVEMBER 2015
1
What Socio-economic Impact Did the Relocation of Residents
from Ocean Drive-In to Hammonds Farm Have on the Residents
Lives?
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Built Environment and Development Studies of the
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, in fulfillment of the degree of Bachelor of Social Science
in Housing.
Durban 2015.
2
Table of ContentsDeclaration………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5
Title…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7
Aim…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8
Objectives…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..8
Background and Problem Statement……………………………………………………………………………………………9
Literature Review………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………10
-Ecology of human development theory………………………………………………………………………………………..11
-Home vs homelessness…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11
-Negative impacts on relocating from informal to formal housing…………………………………………………12
-Positive impacts on relocating from informal to formal housing…………………………………………………..12
-Housing policy strategies………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13
-Housing Act………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….13
-Breaking New Ground………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….13
-Case study……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15
Background/context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...16
-EThekwini Municipality…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………16
-Used transportation systems in Durban………………………………………………………………………………………..17
-Ocean Drive-In informal settlement………………………………………………………………………………………………18
-Hammonds Farm low-income housing project………………………………………………………………………………18
Methodology…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…20
-Methods used for data collection……………………………………………………………………………………………….…20
Results………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………21
-Socio-economic opportunities in Ocean Drive-In informal settlement…………………………………………..21
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-Socio-economic opportunities in Ocean Drive-In informal settlement…………………………………………21
-Accessible services………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………24
-Improved infrastructure………………………………………………………………………………………………………………24
-Sense of pride in ownership and independence……………………………………………………………………….…24
-Enhance quality of life……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…25
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………26
Reference…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………28
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Declaration
I declare that this research report is my own unaided work. It is being submitted in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Housing at the University
of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. It has not been submitted for any degree or examination in any other
institution.
Mangezi Ndabezinhle Lethumnotho Dlamini.
………………………………….. 24 November 2015.
5
Title:
What socio-economic impact did the relocation of residents from Ocean Drive-In to Hammonds
Farm have on the resident’s lives?
Abstract:
Relocation, resettlements and forced removals have a long history in South Africa both before
and during the apartheid era. Since the fall of apartheid and the creation of a democratic country,
people are no longer forcibly relocated because of their ethnicity. Instead individuals are now
able to live in any area of the country without fear of being detained or arrested, including areas
in major cities or in the numerous settlements that border these cities (Platzky and Walker,
1985). One of the main arguments is this article is the forced relocation and resettlement of
informal shack dwellers located on privately owned land or periphery of the city of Durban.
Approximately 1.2 million households in South Africa currently live in informal settlements,
under very dangerous conditions which pose serious threat to their health, safety, and security.
Access to adequate housing remains a big challenge in South Africa, no withstanding continuous
efforts since 1994, to deliver affordable housing to the poor, through various national housing
subsidy schemes (Morris, 1971). Government introduced ground-breaking housing policy
reforms in 2004, which included a programme devoted to the upgrading of informal settlements.
The new initiative, crowned as the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP), had
the objective to eradicate all informal settlements located around the city and on privately owned
land by the year 2014. After almost a decade of implementation this study sets out to explore the
policy dynamics, and the implementation of these policies (Oliver-Smith, 2009).
Key words: Relocation, informal settlement, affordable housing, housing policy, upgrading of
informal settlement, privately owned land, policy dynamics.
6
Introduction
The current study is influenced by the ever increasing of housing demands which highlights the
continuous increase of informal settlements and how the government has to come up with
significant housing interventions. Bond and Tait (1997) states that when informal settlements are
upgraded or residents of informal settlements are relocated to new conventional housing projects
there are a variety of changes that affect their lives, some of the changes caused by relocation are
positive and some are negative. The governments housing policy towards informal settlements in
South Africa reflects a tension between two approaches which is recognizing the legitimacy of
informal settlements and aggressively removing slums or the politically correct term which is
informal settlements (Hunter and Posel, 2012); the RDP housing which is a housing term that
derived from The Reconstruction Development Programme is a housing delivery vehicle used to
speed up the rate of housing delivery which came into existence after the 1994 government
championed by the ANC (African National Congress).
This research paper will examine and critically analyze the socio-economic impact of the
relocation of the Ocean Drive-In informal settlements residents to Hammonds Farm formal
housing. More than any other social policy at that time the RDP housing targeted for social
redistribution, desegregated cities, a dignified life and employment generating forms of
infrastructure development (Huchzemeyer, 2003). Until this day the RDP housing still remains a
prominent term, retaining the symbolic connection between housing and social transformations.
Contemporary studies show the associated health risks and a range of social issues to high rates
of unemployment among those living in informal settlement areas together with high levels of
food insecurity and high rates of poverty (Wilkins and Hofmeyr, 1994). In this research we will
argue that a strong impulse by the various levels of the state to remove or relocate informal
settlements is unrealistic, it is likely to cause a continued tension with shack dwellers and be sure
to undermine the livelihoods of some of the poorest South Africans residing in informal
settlement; there are various factors to be considered by the government before relocating
residents bearing in mind that they invaded that piece of land for a reason such as it is convenient
to economic opportunities (Goebel, 2007) .
7
As government explores ways in which they can contribute and stimulate urban economic
development and attract large-scale projects tensions with residents living in nearby areas can
arise (Pugh, 2000)); this conflict between the government and residents from informal
settlements has ultimately lead to forced removal and involuntary displacement of communities
from affected areas. This kind of relocation is known as ‘development-caused forced
displacement and resettlement’ and occurs when people are involuntarily moved to new locations
rather than going there on their own desire or free will (Oliver-Smith, 2009). According to de
Wet (2009:81) forced resettlement “not only disrupts people’s lives and values but also casts
them into wider sets of structures and relationships and into a process of accelerated socio-
economic change.” He also mentions that resettlement can lower people’s material well-being,
limit their choices and control over their circumstances, and increase conflict within their new
area.
Aim
The aim of this paper is to compare Hammonds Farm to Ocean Drive-In and what socio-
economic impact did the relocation of residents have on their lives.
Objectives
To understand if the relocation affected the residents positively or negatively
To understand existing challenges in Hammonds Farm
What role does moving into a RDP play in the lives of occupants (socially, economically,
psychologically and physically)
What socio-economic opportunities existed in Ocean Drive-In
What socio-economic opportunities exist in Hammonds Farm?
8
Background and Problem Statement
According to the National Department of Housing White Paper (NDHWP, 1995) providing
housing to the masses of the South African nation is one of the greatest challenges faced by the
government. The extent of the challenge surfaces from the enormous size of the housing backlog
and the desperation and impatience of the homeless. Before 1994 most people did not have
access to houses and most families were living in shacks, shoddy squatter settlements, or
backyard rooms, which uncovered away their dignity as humans. In highest law in South Africa
which is the 1996 the Constitution of the Republic of South African (CRSA; No.8, Section 26,
1996) was drafted and it stipulated that everyone has the right to have access to a housing
allowance, and government must take reasonable legislative and other measures within its
available resources to achieve this improvement.
One of the interventions that the National Department of Human Settlement (NDoHS) it
responsibility is to provide for a sustainable human settlement is incremental housing
intervention through the Informal Settlements Upgrading Programme (ISUP), which intends to
improve the lives of the 100 million slum dwellers by 2020 ( NHC, 2009). The main objective of
this programme is to secure tenure, which aims to ensure that residents have residential rights;
health and security, which aim to promote the development of a healthy and secure living
environment; and empowerment, which aims to address the social and economic exclusion of
people by focusing on community development, the promotion of social and economic
integration, and addressing the broader social needs of communities (NHC, 2009).
9
Literature Review
This research paper has adopted Bronfenbrenner’s theory which is the ecology of human
development; this theory explores how Reconstruction Development Programme (RDP)
recipients perceive or experience their houses (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). Such information could
assist in understanding their experiences from the perspective of the ecology of human
development theory. Bronfenbrenner also explores the interrelationships between human beings,
their surroundings, and their interactions with regard to different ecological levels in an effort to
understand the delicate influences that these levels have on the individual. Basic services
enhances their overall quality of life in relation to their psychological, physical and social well-
being. With the easy access to socio-economic services and amenities such as connected water
and electricity inside the houses, the accessibility of schools, clinics, transport services and a
habitable environment it is found these services play an important role in the lives of the
participants or beneficiaries. People with unmet housing needs tend to be socio-economically
disadvantaged, experience higher death rates, poor health, and are more likely to have serious
long-lasting illnesses (Garner, 2006).
Ecology of human development theory.
The ecological theory of human development and the role of transitioning to a new house by the
occupants are explored in this research; Bronfenbrenners ecological theory was considered
innovative because it explains ones individual behavior in relation to a number of different
systems rather than focusing on a single setting (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). There are six ecological
models of human development and they are microsystem (family), mesosystem (environment),
exosystem (culture), macrosystem (social support) and chronosystem. According to Saegert et al.
(2003) to understand human behavior, physical, health and environment one must first
understand the ecological theory that connects individuals, household and communities; he also
states that in order to understand the human behaviour, physical health, and social environment
fully, one must first understand the ecological theory that connects individuals, households and
communities.
10
A research conducted by Rashid (2009) found out that informal settlements dwellers are more
likely to experience social and economic exclusion as well as psychological effects which at later
stage supports poverty and social exclusion, relocating residents from informal settlements to
formal housing improves their quality of living and standard, a house is more than a physical
structure but it is also a home which gives the beneficiaries a sense of belonging. In a study
conducted by Hardoy, Cairncros and Satterthwaite (1990) the case study highlights those living
in poor and vulnerable conditions face greater and serious health problems than those living in
better conditions for instance the finding from the case studies indicate that children from poor
housing and living conditions are more vulnerable to disease and people who do not own houses
may be looked down upon by their counterparts who do own homes.
Home vs homelessness
The meaning of terms home and homelessness are both different and yet somehow they are
connected. Homelessness is defined by Eyrich-Garg, O’Leary and Cottler (2008) as living
without a stable place or structure. The authors have expanded on this definition by including
people sleeping on the streets, in cars, abandoned buildings, tunnels, bus stations, and parks are
also regarded as homeless. Since homelessness is defined by not having a stable place or
structure one may argue that people residing in informal settlement may not be regarded as
homelessness.
In many developing countries the definition for homelessness is complex and therefore difficult
to define as it changes continuously between places. Kellett and Moore (2003) further define
homelessness as to by what is deemed or seen to be culturally, economically, and politically
unacceptable, it is therefore not possible to explain homelessness without viewing it as an
unacceptable form of housing such as residing in roofless dwellings and so forth. Blid and
Gerdner (2006) view homelessness as an excessive form of societal segregation because of the
living conditions in which homeless people find themselves, this makes them feel sidelined or
alienated from society. Homeless people are an underprivileged group with significant basic
needs, and according to previous research, these people would prefer to be housed formally.
Thus housing could provide some kind of support and care in order to achieve social integration.
11
Negative impacts on relocating from informal to formal housing
When informal settlements residents are relocated or forced to move to new housing projects,
these housing projects are usually further and on the edge of the city. Most new housing
developments happens on the periphery of cities because this is where land is the cheapest and
where it is possible for the government to acquire large pieces of land suitable for large projects.
Smit and Mbona (1996) argue that for low-income people living in informal settlements is cheap;
a shack made of corrugated iron, packing case boards, timber, sheet metal, wood, soil or stone
can cost less than R2000 to build. They continue to elaborate on the point that apart from the cost
of the materials for building the structure the only cost may be for water, for example, 25 litres of
water (a standard sized container) cost 25 cents; 100 litres per day, typical water usage for an
average size household in informal settlements, cost R30 per month and in many other informal
settlements the water supply is free and informal settlements are often conveniently located for
residents’ needs. Informal settlement are unregulated which allows various kinds of activity to
flourish such as spaza shops, they can have their own panel beaters and shebeens (informal
tarvens) which are often the main meeting place for men in informal settlements (Dewar et al.,
1990).
Positive impacts of relocating from informal to formal housing
One of the benefits of relocating to a formal house are the basic infrastructure provided in
housing projects which usually consists of water supply and sanitation, roads, storm water
drainage and electricity. Residents relocating from informal settlement to a formal settlements
with the basic services provided usually enhances the overall quality of life in relation to their
psychological, physical and social well-being. Houses with services were found to play an
important role in the lives of the participants. Recent studies show that residents living in
informal settlement have a reduced life span compared to residents living in formal housing the
reason is they are exposed to a number of health risks and crime in the area; some of the
residents while still residing in informal settlements where discriminated by society because of
their background or belonging (Morris, 1971).
12
Housing Policy Strategies
In South Africa housing policies play an important role in assisting the government to achieve
sustainable human settlement and overcoming the housing backlog; the housing policy, housing
theory and housing practice are interdependent and one of these fundamental elements can’t
function without the existence of others (DoH, 2004). One may argue that the housing policies
are theories which have been put into paper and not into existence which states that by providing
people with conventional or formal housing the country is moving to a sustainable human
settlement but is that the case; is providing people with free housing achieving that goal or is it
just making the people more dependent on the government.
Housing Act 107 of 1997
The Housing Act 107 of 1997 is a legislation which commits the South African government to a
housing formalization programme consisting of the establishment and maintenance of habitable,
stable and sustainable public and private residential environments to ensure a feasible and viable
households and communities to residents in areas allowing convenient access to economic
opportunities, and to health, educational and social amenities in which all citizens and permanent
residents of the Republic of South Africa will have. On a progressive basis access to permanent
residential structures with secure tenure, ensuring internal and external privacy and providing
adequate protection against the elements potable water, adequate sanitary facilities and domestic
energy supply will also be provided.
Breaking New Ground (BNG 2004)
The Breaking New Ground supports Bronfenbrenners ecological theory of development; the
governments mandate is to provide free housing to the residents in which it will enhance the
beneficiary’s well-being and also better the lives by having a sense of belonging; the
government’s new vision for provision of houses is a paradigm shift from focusing only on
housing but to a sustainable human settlement while enhancing the role of the private through
Public Private Partnership (PPP), this is an effective delivery mechanism which will promote a
non-racial and an integrated society through the development of sustainable human settlement.
13
Within this housing vision the accelerating of the delivery of housing as a key strategy for
poverty reduction, utilise housing as a major job creation and combating crime and promoting
social cohesion while also improving quality of life for the poor ( BNG, 2004).
In a speech by L.N Sisulu the former Minister of Housing at the occasion of the parliamentary
media briefing in Cape Town, 25 May 2004:
“During the election period one of the things that our people complained about most, apart from
unemployment, was housing. They complained about inadequate housing, and of the quality and
standards of houses. We promised them we would attend to the problem...This was part of our societal
contract...we are breaking new ground to house all....”
One of the housing strategies included in the BNG housing policy is The Upgrading of Informal
Settlements Programme (UISP) which offers grants to accredited municipalities to undertake
sustainable housing development projects aimed at improving the conditions of slum
communities. The main idea of the programme is to facilitate a phased in-situ upgrading of
informal settlements as against the relocation of slum dwellers to green fields. By this the
programme seeks to achieve three interrelated objectives: tenure security, health, and safety and
finally to empower the inhabitants of slum communities through participatory processes Housing
(Code Part 3, 2009).
14
Case study:
Smithfield is located in Durban and it is a small informal settlement of about plus or minus 100
households on a piece of vacant public land between the middle-income suburbs of Kenville and
Sea Cow Lake (one of a largest informal settlements on a steep slope along the N2 freeway). The
local authority has provided a communal standpipe for the community and it is intended that the
settlement will be developed with in-situ upgrading in the near future once housing subsidy
funds become available. Some of the residents of Smithfield and other similar informal
settlements it is possible that they may have to relocate to one of the large new housing projects
on the urban periphery, such as Waterloo. Waterloo is a 4500 unit improvement situated around
30 km north of the city centre. Waterloo is planned to be a formalized area without any shacks or
informal extensions. In 1999, the Built Environment Support Group embraced an assessment of
informal settlements and new housing project in Durban which included Smithfield and
Waterloo, where 93 and 102 households were individually visited and interviewed.
15
Background/context
EThekwini Municipality
The EThekwini Municipality is located on the east coast of South Africa in the Province of
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN); eThekwini is the largest city in this province and the third-largest city in
the country. The land area is comparatively larger than that of other South African cities and is
topographically hilly. The Municipality spans out on an area of approximately 2297km² and is
home to some 3.5 million people. It consists of a diverse society which faces various social,
economic, environmental and governance challenges (Nicholson, 2001). As a result it attempts to
address these challenges which mean meeting the needs of an ever increasing population.
EThekwini is a diverse city with different ethnic group and the dominant race group which is the
Black community consist of 71%, the Indian community which is 19%, White community is 8%
and the minority are the Coloured community which consist of 2%. The city is well equipped for
the needs of tourists and has for years been the prime holiday venue for locals; Durban is one of
the fastest-growing urban areas in the world with its harbour is the busiest in South Africa, and it
is rated as one of the 10 largest in the world. The port of Durban handles more than 30 million
tons of cargo with a value of more than R100 billion every year.
16
Locality Map: Durban Locality Map:
Pictorial View: City of Durban
Used Transportation systems in Durban.
About 40% of the residents travel and depend on using public transportation, the public
transportation system can be divided into three categories of transportation modes and that being
the railway system which involves trains and they accumulate to (7%), busses which
accumulates (25%) and taxis (mini-busses) which are the most dominant used mode of
transportation especially in the Central Business District (CBD) which is (68%). The taxi and
bus route system provides extensive coverage throughout the municipal. Area and beyond. There
are approximately 1600 unidirectional bus routes which are serviced by approximately 200
operators in a mix of subsidised contracts and unsubsidized services. There are
approximately1500 unidirectional taxi routes, serviced by120 taxi associations in the municipal
area. Overall, the public transport system is economically inefficient with many services in
direct competition with each other, resulting in unprofitable rail and bus trips (Nicholson, 2001).
17
Ocean Drive-In informal settlement
Ocean Drive-In is an informal settlement which is located in the north of
Durban, it is a settlement which has been in existence for more than 32 years and it is located on
privately owned land which is close to the Dube Trade Port and includes the King Shaka Airport.
In 2012 about 1420 people lived in 796 houses (Posel and Marx, 2013); after the leader of the
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and his family were burnt to death in their shack in 1985 the
African National Congress (ANC) members took control of the settlement. Members in the
community have access to a wide range of employment and social opportunities in the area,
residents in Ocean Drive-In were made to believe that their settlement would be upgraded by in
2009. The municipality informed the residents that they would be relocated to a low-income
housing project located in Hammonds Farm 16km from Ocean Drive-In (Sutherland et al, 2013).
Hammonds Farm low-income housing project
Hammond's Farm is located in Verulam a small town which is 27 kilometers away from Durban,
inside eThekwini Municipality is what used to be a sugarcane field. Hammonds Farm is
deliberately situated toward the east of the N2 road and south of the King Shaka International
Airport and Dube Trade port Industrial Development Zone. Hammonds Farm settlement was
shaped as aftereffect of the general population who were moved from Ocean Drive-In informal
settlement. Ocean Drive-In is made up for the most part of shacks (mud houses) and has no
basic services such as running water and electricity, and has mutual stand channels and seven pit
lavatories. This is one of the most underdeveloped areas within eThekwini Municipality and it
possesses health risks (Sutherland et al, 2013).
18
Figure 1: Terraced RDP houses Figure 2: Fa∙ cade of Terraced RDP house
Figure 3: Top View of the Hammonds Farm Site (Google Maps, 2015)
19
Methodology
On the 3rd of November 2015 a site visit was conducted on Hammonds Farm which is a low-
income housing project located in Verulam, the type of research methodology that was
conducted in this research proposal was qualitative research, the information of the research was
generated by using primary data and once the data was collected then it was managed, analyzed
and processed to information. Reason and Rowan (2004) have argued that the core element of a
qualitative research approach is to connect meanings to the experiences of respondents and their
lives.
The type of research methods that were be used to get the necessary data in this qualitative
research method were individual interviews were conducted, a focus group questionnaire, and
observational methods and type of sampling that was conducted was random sampling. The
people who were interviewed in the Hammonds Farm site were supposed to be people who were
relocated from Ocean Drive-In to Hammonds Farm and they were randomly selected so that the
end results were not subjective or bias.
Methods used for data collection
A face to face interviews were conducted with different people both close and open-ended
questions were used, this was the way of collecting all the relevant information, different sources
and different views on how they perceive the RDP housing and how they feel about the
relocation and how this process affected their socio-economic status is it positive or negative.
The second method was used which was the focus group method to get more clarity on the
residents opinions, beliefs and attitudes towards the low-income housing project and how they
feel about the opportunities available in the area. A thorough observation was done to the study
area and the environment that residents are residing in, the last method which was random
sampling was done in order for the information that was received on the end of the day was not
subject but objective because at the end of the day the data that is collected must be the views
and the voices of the people and this data collected can be used to build more knowledge or
assist the government.
Before collecting kind of data whether it is primary or secondary it is important to plan and
conduct the research in the participants natural settings ( in their residential area) in order to
20
address the research question optimally. Denzin and Lincoln (2005) state that a qualitative
research paradigm allows for the researcher to engage with the participants in their natural
setting in an effort to make sense of or interpret phenomena in terms of the meaning people bring
to them. Primarily a qualitative research seeks to interpret community experiences and produce a
better understanding of the social factors which play a role in their specific social environments
of the person being interviewed (Denzin & Lincoln, 1998). Conducting the research in such a
setting allows the researcher to investigate deeper into the themes being discussed. Qualitative
research therefore develops and broadens the power of ordinary language and expression,
allowing the researcher to gain a better and more in-depth understanding of the social world in
which we live today (Terre Blanche & Durrheim, 2002).
Results
Socio-economic opportunities in Ocean Drive-In informal settlement
Informal settlement are not random they are strategically planned and located close to the cities
or industrial areas where the residents can benefit from the economic opportunities or activities
that is happening around them. Many residents while still residing in Ocean Drive-In informal
settlements were employed in areas which were close to them such as the Dube airport, since
they have been relocated they have left their current job due to the reasons that they would be
located far and had the find other sources of jobs in the new place in Hammonds farm. In
Hammond’s farm there are not many employment opportunities around the area so residents
have to travel longer distances to go to work and most of their salaries gets spent on
transportation fees.
Living in an informal settlement is very cheap considering the fact that you don’t have to pay for
any services in some informal settlements the water supply is free and available from a
community stand pipe. Informal settlements don’t have any type of planning which allows any
kind of economic activity for example people had spaza shops to get some kind of an earning; a
car pane beater existed which only needed a large sheltered ouside space. Shebeens or informal
taverns operated and it was the main meeting place for men in informal settlements to meet and
socialize.
21
Socio-economic opportunities in Hammonds Farm
When the people from Ocean Drive-In were told that they would be relocated to a new housing
development in Hammonds Farm it was like a dream come true and after the dust settled the
reality hit the residents. The low-income housing development is located far from economic
opportunities and some of the opportunities that are available within the shortest distance need
some kind of skilled labour and not man power for instance the Super Spar cant employ all the
residents and even if some the residents could be employed doing a job duty such as driving a
forklift this job requires some kind of a skill which most of the resident don’t acquire. It has been
a challenge to generate some kind of income but some residents have been able to open small
shops in the area to get some kind of income.
One of the responses made by a woman with two children was when she was asked what are the
benefits of staying in Hammonds Farm and she replied, ‘when it is raining you don’t know even
know that it is raining until you see the lightning outside the window because of the roof tiles, in
my informal settlement in Ocean Drive-In there were no proper roof covering only corrugated
iron’. On the social aspects side on relocating to Hammonds Farm are that residents are satisfied
with the services offered by the low-income housing projects such as the physical structure of the
building itself, it is a safe and clean neigbourhood and the water and electricity are being
provided.
.
22
Pie chart showing how many residents are still employed in Ocean Drive-In after relocation
residents living in hammonds farm employed in ocean drive-in after relocationresidents living in hammonds farm who are no longer employed in ocean drive-in after relocation
Figure 4: Showing how many residents are still employed in Ocean Drive-In after relocation
The graph presented above illustrates the number of resident who are residing in Hammonds
Farm who are still employed in Ocean Drive-In versus the number of residents who are residing
in Hammonds Farm who are no longer employed in Ocean Drive-In because of the relocation. A
number of 15 people were interviewed on that day and 8 out of the 15 people replied that they
are still employed at Ocean Drive in while 7 out of the 10 people replied that they are no longer
employed from Ocean Drive-In. Many economic reasons has resulted in many of the residents
from abandoning their jobs in Ocean Drive-In is the high cost of transportation
The figure below shows a store which was opened by one of the residents around the community
of Hammonds Farm low-income housing project to get some kind of income and the since the
only place people buy their groceries is the Super Spar which is expensive to low-income
earners. This shop is suitable for low-income earners as it sells a variety of commonly used
consumer goods such as bags of maize, tins of beans and candles, the shop is considerably more
expensive than supermarkets but it is conveniently located and sells goods in small quantities
such as one tea bag, one egg and one tablet which is suitable to the people with low or irregular
incomes.
23
Figure 5: Uncle Tom’s mini- superette
Accessible services
With regard to accessibility to services the RDP participants stated that life was much easier in
their RDP houses, so much has changed in their lives since their relocation that they sometimes
find it difficult to believe that they live in a house which has all the basic human necessities in or
around them. The participants added that the water connections and geysers made their lives
much easier.
Improved infrastructure
The RDP residents claim that their relocation has helped them in an indefinable manner when
compared to the place where they had lived previously in Ocean Drive-In informal settlement.
They are proud to have received their houses, they are happy for the improved infrastructure
such as tarred roads, transport, and the availability of other facilities, they also mentioned that
they do not have to travel long distances to retrieve water because it is on tap in their households.
Sense of pride in ownership and independence
The RDP recipients also pointed out that owning a house has assisted them and their loved ones
in various ways; they are able to do whatever they want in their own yard. They also indicated
that they are satisfied with their ownership of a decent RDP house.
24
Enhanced quality of life
Enhanced quality of life can be linked to psychological, physical, and social well-being.
According to the groups of residents, the RDP housing initiative assists people in owning a stable
home. The participants also highlighted the importance of owning one’s own house. With
specific reference to the psychological impact of ownership, most participants are proud to own a
house and displayed excitement, the extracts further indicate that receiving a site together with a
well-built house offers hope to these needy citizens. That is, instead of spending money on
construction costs, the participants are now able to take care of other necessities with their extra
cash.
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Conclusion
The opening statement is the Constitutions of Republic of South Africa states that everyone has
the right to access to adequate housing and government must take reasonable means within the
its limited resources to house the people of South Africa, one may argue that it is most highly
impossible for the government to overcome the housing deficit or backlog; one of the arguments
raised is since the government is providing free housing in cities people leave their homes behind
from rural areas and migrate to cities knowing that free housing will be provided, this situation is
a thirst that the government cannot quench or satisfy. Informal settlements arguably play a role in
South Africa; residents from informal settlements often act as a labor pool that contributes to the
economic growth of a city and the nation. The urban economy depends heavenly on the urban
poor for cheap labor (Sridharan, 1995). Aldrich and Sandhu (1995) prove that the urban poor
families sponsor the formal economy as they don't require a lot of capital for housing and related
services.
It is important to distinguish between the two terms which are eradication and relocation in the
housing context, eradication refers to eliminating or removing something away completely, in
this case informal settlements. This can be done either through relocation Breaking New Ground
housing instruments such as in- situ upgrading. According to the BNG, eradication of informal
settlements means in-situ upgrading to the development of informal settlements in
designated/existing areas by providing land, municipal infrastructure and social amenities.
Relocation can only be considered where development is impossible or not desirable, and must
be based on voluntary and cooperative basis (DoH, 2004).
The relocating of residents is supported by the 2004 housing policy which is the Breaking New
Ground policy which advocates for a habitable and sustainable human settlement with proper
basic social services and close to economic opportunities. A house is viewed as a good or a
commodity as the beneficiary will benefit from it for the rest of their lives, one of the social
issues pertaining to living in informal settlement are when children at an early age is exposed to
the terrible living conditions he is living in such as violence, crime and dirty environment he will
grow up with that mentality that violence and littering on the ground is norm even when he
moves to a better community with proper facilities he will take this behaviour with him and
that’s how societies are normally destroyed ( Downer, 1998).
26
The government has to focus on the two core elements which will enhancement the country and
the lives of people living in it. The job market must be widened by the government by creating
more employment opportunities; by providing an individual with free housing while he is
unemployed not only are you improving his quality of life but also you are placing a burden on
that person how will he maintain the structure of the house if he is unemployed and there are no
other ways of a person is able to generating income (DoH, 2005).
The primary focus by the government was to eradicate informal settlements; this focus has been
changed to the upgrading of informal settlements however since introduced the ISUP with the
intention to improve the lives of informal settlement dwellers by 2020. The ISUP deals with
procedures for the in situ upgrading of informal settlements, it further promotes the development
of healthy and secure living environments, and the empowerment of informal settlement dwellers
through building free houses which constitute part of the RDP. These free houses are known as
RDPs by South African citizens. The ISUP is one of the main programmes which seeks to
improve the livelihood of millions of underprivileged citizens by providing them with a safe
residence and access to essential services (NHC, 2009); the programme also funds municipalities
in order to execute the plans for the upgrading of informal settlements within their jurisdiction.
In conclusion the findings in this paper adds to a greater theoretical understanding of the factors
contributing to human development and the factors that hinder the effectiveness of the housing
programme. These factors draw attention to a number of important issues regarding RDP
housing, which may assist the housing practitioners and in particular policy developers in
developing policy that may be more useful in meeting the needs of the people in practice and in
reality rather than in theory (Goebel, 2007). This could improve the existing housing programme
as well as alert the housing practitioners to existing shortcomings and offer them the opportunity
to become familiar therewith. These factors that obstruct RDP ownership suggest a need for the
government and other relevant stakeholders to engage in the issues that prevent the successful
implementation of the housing programme thereby maximising the effectiveness of the housing
programme, primarily in order to strive to improve the lives of previously disadvantaged people.
27
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