Public housing infrastructure service delivery by the city of Cape Town municipality : a critical evaluation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the level of commitment and involvement of the City of Cape Town Municipality in providing sufficient public housing opportunities to the approximately 350 000 people living in 223 informal settlements and backyards in and around Cape Town. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with identified city housing officials as well as residents from different informal settlements and backyards in Cape Town. These interviews confirmed the research questions and objectives of this study. Forty three percent of respondents confirmed that there are indeed 223 informal settlements in and around Cape Town. The shortage of public land for housing, the constant influx of people from neighbouring provinces, and the limited municipal financial resources, are challenges impacting on public housing service delivery to the poor. The said Municipality has adopted a four-phased plan to upgrade and improve the living conditions of many informal settlement and backyard dwellers in the city. Cape Town has natural boundaries consisting of Table Mountain on the southern side and the Atlantic Ocean on the western side. The region is also rich in various plant life, which also influences public housing delivery. The study confirmed that the municipality cannot eradicate the housing backlog on its own and that it should enter into cooperation with business to try and resolve the Cape Town housing dilemma. The informal settlement dwellers listed their challenges, such as shack fires, flooding in winter and very hot as well as sometimes very cold conditions. Gangsterism and crime also present a major threat to them while living in these areas.