Housing
Permanent URI for this community
Housing is more than mere shelter. It transcends the physical structure and exists within a context defined by services and facilities which link individuals and families to the community, the city and regions. The Housing Programme provides a wide range of modules that aim at equipping students with economical, social, technological and policy issues that impinge on various housing production systems and how they impact on the delivery of housing. It is also supported by extensive independent research into various facets of housing by academic staff.
Browse
Browsing Housing by Author "Chipungu, Lovemore."
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item An analysis of backyard structures as a livelihood strategy for low-income households: the case of Ikwezi Township in Mthatha.(2018) Dilika, Lwazi Lindisipho Phumzile.; Chipungu, Lovemore.The lack of low income housing especially rental housing in urban areas of South Africa has forced many low-income households to find accommodation in the backyard housing sector, which is mainly provided by the household sector. Despite the growth of the backyard rental housing sector in the post-apartheid era, housing policies have discounted the sector. Focusing more on eradicating informal settlements, and homelessness by delivering subsidised starter houses. The overlooking of the backyard rental sector by the state neglects prospects for more sustainable human settlements. This study thus reflects on the use of backyard structures as a livelihood strategy by low-income households. Addressing the research question of: whether backyard structures can enhance economic opportunities in townships, and what role has it played in elevating the housing backlog problem South African in cities? The study employs a literature review informed by electronic data bases, and implements mixed method research relying on quantitative data gathered via questionnaires, and qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and anecdotal observation in the nonmetropolitan case study of Ikwezi Township, in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. This thesis focuses on housing policy and legislation, spatial, economic, social, and environmental considerations in relation to the backyard rental sector. By discussing the backyard rental sector within housing, the liberal and neoliberal theories and the sustainable livelihood approach are used. In order to relate the sector to planning practises and bylaws at municipal level. The study strengthens the argument that the perception that the backyard rental sector is informal and therefore undesirable is not necessarily true. This study proposes that this position should be reconsidered. In investigating the economic, and environmental impacts of the backyard rental sector in Ikwezi Township in Mthatha. The study affirms that the backyard sector plays a vital role is sustaining livelihood strategies of the poor, and it also increases dwelling unit and population density substantially and it also promotes urban compaction. Furthermore, the study proves that landlord can make considerable amounts of money from their backyard structures. Depending on what they use their backyard structures for, the quality of their neighbourhood, and their backyard structures. The study has also found that the amounts they charge their tenants per backyard structure, and how many backyard structures they have in their homes also play a significant role on the income they can generate from their backyard structures. iv | P a g e All these factors have been proven to differ from case study to case study, and have been proven to have an influence on how much landlords can generate from their backyard structures. The case study of Ikwezi Township has also refuted the notion that economic sustainability wise, low-income dwellings rarely realise financial asset value, trapping homeowners on the low levels of the property ladder in unaffordable housing. Instead the backyard rentals sector provides rental income or other remittances, realising economic asset value, whilst providing tenants with affordable rental accommodation. The backyard rentals sector further promotes the social asset value of housing, and support social sustainability. Evidenced can be seen in co-dependence, and low-conflict in landlordtenant relationships sometimes framed by familial connections that provide tenure security. Findings also indicate that backyard rentals challenge sustainability through concerns of the pressure they place on infrastructure. The study concludes that informal backyard rentals contribute towards elevating poverty in low-income neighbourhoods. However, interventions should be considered by authorities and planners to address impediments such as, lack of infrastructural capacity to accommodate backyard tenants, especially in new housing developments targeting the poor.Item An assessment of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in informal settlements in eThekwini Municipality : a case study of Cato Crest Informal Settlement, Durban.(2016) Zandamela, Tanya Stephania.; Chipungu, Lovemore.Waste generated by daily human activities and left to accumulate in ubiquitous, illegal, unregulated dumpsites close to dwellings, is a problem in informal settlements. If not collected and appropriately disposed of, it poses risks to public and environmental health. The quality of life and living conditions of those that already suffer deprivation due to living in informal settlements are further compromised. Waste services provided by local government are generally not adequate in informal settlements. Many municipalities struggle to provide even the most basic services to contain solid waste in these areas due to a lack of infrastructure and financial resources. This study sought to determine the efficacy of current solid waste management in enhancing living conditions in informal settlements in eThekwini Municipality. The functionalism theory, neoliberalism theory, and communicative planning theory provided the theoretical background for the study and enabled an understanding of the role of different stakeholders in the management of solid waste in informal settlements. The study employed qualitative research methods, consisting of interviews and participant observation. It established that inhabitants of informal settlements cannot afford to pay for waste management services, nor are they willing to do so. The study found that the main barrier to effective municipal solid waste management and healthy living conditions in informal settlements is a lack of political will and stakeholder accountability in the solid waste management process, as well as the exclusion of these settlements from the provision of formal basic sanitary services. Another key determining factor is prevailing attitudes to solid waste management. To change this mind-set, community members need to be educated on the dangers that inadequate waste management pose to human and environmental well-being. Participation and strong partnerships between different interest groups have been found to be part of the solution to this problem and should be encouraged for effective solid waste management in informal settlements.Item The impact of rural housing policy on the socio-economic status of households: a case study of Vulindlela rural housing project context.(2018) Ngcobo, Ntombifuthi.; Chipungu, Lovemore.Rural socio-economics have been both progressive and regressive over the years when it comes to the levels of sustainable livelihoods. Rural communities today face the drawback of socio-economics, as enormous backlogs of social services, economic and infrastructural developments challenge the sustainability of livelihoods in rural communities. This study aims to analyse and critique the socio-economic impact of the rural housing policy on rural households. The case study of Vulindlela Rural People’s Housing project sets a perfect landscape of a modern rural community. To illustrate the dynamics around the rural socio-economics brought to light by the Rural Housing Policy and the previous Apartheid Policy. The researcher made use of both secondary and primary data to enrich and bring insight to the research study. A purposeful random sample of 100 was implemented to assist in ensuring credibility in the findings; this further helped achieve good representativeness. This research applied a mixed methodology design, incorporating household surveys, semi-structured interviews and focus groups discussions (FGDs). Other major tools used to collect data were observations together with mapping as a tool that assisted in collecting and compiling visual representation of the regularly perceived concepts and relationships of socio-economics in rural communities. The data collected were analysed utilising MS Excel, in a thematic manner to aid conduct, emphasise, pinpoint, examine and record patterns of socio-economic issues and the rural housing policy. Theoretical constructs shaping this study range from Neoliberalism, the Sustainable livelihoods theory and the integrated development theory of change. The Neoliberal theory provided a foundation for South Africa’s status quo and the self -help nature of the approach taken by VDA (Vulindlela Development Association). The study further elaborated how integrated development and sustainable development theories need to transition from being mere slogans into becoming actual strategies in order to adjust local and national socio-economics. Major findings of this study found that the South African rural community continuously faces challenges of poverty and unemployment, compounded by limited access to basic services. Findings proved that there is pressure to derive a policy that would deal with socio-economic issues in a holistic manner. This would be made possible if policy and implementation prioritised integration when delivering sustainable development. Thus creating an opportunity for rural households to leverage their assets and generate wealth. Integrated development, therefore, considers the social, cultural, economic, environmental, and geographic realities that shape communities, ensuring that housing development is paired with economic stimulation and progressive activity in the rural areas. Key recommendations found in this study emphasised how housing delivery should adopt people centred approaches in order to achieve sustainable effects socio-economically. Furthermore beneficiary selection process for government projects still needs to be reviewed with regards to finding truly worthy and deserving beneficiaries. Other recommendations are focused on the monitoring and evaluation aspects project and the need to document lessons learnt and deliver project blue prints to ensure a dialogue is created around lessons learnt.