Using project management to measure the provision of low–cost housing in the Metsimaholo Local Municipality

Abstract

This paper concentrates on the use of project management to measure the provision of low-cost housing (LCH) in the Metsimaholo Local Municipality (MLM). The provision of LCH forms part of government urban regeneration programmes for achieving social sustainability. The LCH projects serve as an instrument for the development of sustainable human settlements and contribute to urban regeneration. The housing vision is underpinned by principles of sustainability, integration, equality and good governance. The South African government has since 1994 been acknowledged for its policy framework and mandate towards human settlement developments in order to give effect to the new housing approach. The government adopted a housing policy aimed at building one million houses by the year 1994. An effective measurement system integrates initiatives, aligns organisational units and resources, and improves performance. A great amount of houses were delivered to their new households. Despite the successes achieved, there are growing concerns regarding the social and environmental sustainability of these housing programmes. There are insufficient resources which lead to substantial shortage of housing and related infrastructure in the country. These issues gave rise to community dissatisfaction leading to service delivery protests in the MLM. Numerical estimates also indicate that there are difficulties to obtain reliable up-to-date statistical information on the completed housing projects. Housing provision has the potential to function as an economic engine, however the abovementioned factors impede the realisation of the economic potential of a viable and vibrant housing delivery system. An effective measurement system integrates initiatives, aligns organisational units and resources, and improves performance. The study provides analysis of the current state of the government's approach to the distribution of housing within the MLM. The use of project management on housing projects is also analysed. The paper also examines the extent to which social sustainability is incorporated within urban regeneration projects in the MLM. The objectives of this study are realised in the application of theoretical and empirical surveys. The paper also offers a series of recommendations to enhance the LCH provision in the MLM.