| dc.description.abstract | The origin and development of informal settlements is a common sight
around large Third World and South African cities. Because informal
settlements will be the only affordable housing for the majority of new
urbanites in these cities and towns in the future, a case study of informal
settlements around lkageng, Potchefstroom, was undertaken. The
purpose of this study is:
i) to determine and describe on three spatial scales, namely Third
World countries, in South Africa and in lkageng, Potchefstroom, the
origin, nature and size of informal settlements, management
strategies of authorities with regard to informal settlements, and the
influence these settlements have on the environment;
ii) to make possible recommendations from the results of the abovementioned
investigation with regard to the management of informal
settlements in lkageng in particular, but also in South Africa in
general, in order to limit deterioration of the environment and to
create better living environments.
Information about informal settlements in Third World and South African
cities was acquired through a literature study. The information for the
settlements in lkageng was acquired through the completion of two
separate questionnaires by previously identified community leaders and
school principals, interviews with previously identified persons, the use of
previous research on the informal settlements in lkageng and personal
observation through fieldwork, maps, aerial photographs and a video of
the area in question.
The most important conclusions that come to the fore were the following:
• In the Third World and South African cities, as well as in lkageng, the
rapid urbanisation process contributed to the shortage of formal
housing and the consequent development of informal settlements
around these cities. Strategies followed by the authorities with regard
to the development of informal settlements can be summarised in three
main groups, namely a non-accommodating approach, laissez-faire
approach, and an accommodating approach.
• The non-accommodating and laissez-faire approach with regard to the
development of informal settlements led to the origin of unplanned
informal settlements around cities and towns. The informal
settlements originated illegally and no infrastructure or services were
provided by the authorities in the settlements. The accommodating
policy regarding the development of informal settlements was pursued
by some authorities as a means to alleviate the drastic housing
shortage in cities and towns. The local authorities had to betimes
provide suitable sites, and infrastructure and services in the planned
informal settlements.
• The development of informal settlements in Third World and South
African cities and lkageng had direct negative influences on the social,
economic and bio-physical environment of the inhabitants. The social,
economic and bio-physical environments had indirect negative
influences on each other, and this in turn had detrimental results for
the other environments. In the cases where the planned informal
settlements were successfully implemented by the local authorities, the
negative influences on the environment were decreased and better
living environments were created for the inhabitants.
• The direct and indirect negative influences on the social environment
of the inhabitants in most of the unplanned and planned informal
settlements include poor health conditions, high occupation density
and overcrowding, low-quality shelter, lack of basic services like
rubbish removal, provision of water and electricity, sewage systems
and a lack of recreation, health and education facilities.
• The direct and indirect negative influences, on the economic
environment of the inhabitants in most of the informal settlements, are
characterised by the limited number of job possibilities, low income and
high unemployment.
• The direct and indirect negative influences, on the bio-physical
environment of the inhabitants in informal settlements, include air and
water pollution, soil erosion, the disturbance and removal of the
vegetation and animal life.
• To decrease environment deterioration through the development of
informal settlements, it is important that the local authorities, private
sector and the inhabitants co-operate to find solutions because the
settlements are part of the greater urban area. | en_US |
