Abstract
Abstract : Across time and place, housing has always been a basic human need that is essential for individuals, families and communities to realise their full potential. Thus, the housing discourse and practice, particularly in post-apartheid South Africa is inseparable from the struggles for human rights and social development. Despite efforts by the post-apartheid government to deliver houses at scale, the implementation processes have been criticised for lacking a pro-poor, participatory developmental focus. New insights and bold deliberations are critical to improve the quantitative and particularly, the qualitative aspects of South Africa’s housing delivery for the urban poor. A critical focus at the country’s housing delivery processes reveals that government overlooked other developmental alternatives that had more potential to enable the urban poor realise their social and economic aspirations. At the apex of the reforms that are required is the need to put the urban poor at the centre of the housing delivery efforts in order to have housing and settlements that reflect the aspirations of the beneficiaries. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a model to enhance voluntary housing delivery in a social development manner in South Africa. Housing and human settlements need to mirror the dreams of families and communities. In the broader scheme, it needs to advance the goals of social policy. The study advocates voluntary housing delivery because of its competencies that resonate with social development goals. Therefore, the study applied Thomas’s (1984) intervention research to develop a model that is aimed at enhancing voluntary housing delivery using a social development framework. In designing the change-oriented model, the study utilised Thomas’s (1984) first three phases and these are Analysis, Design and Development. The study left the three last phases (Evaluation, Diffusion and Adoption) for further research. In the first phase, the researcher conducted a literature search into the historical and contemporary underpinnings of the housing challenge in the country. He also did a state-of-the art review of the existing mechanisms that are geared towards mitigating the problem. The empirical component of this phase involved semi-structured interviews with the two senior officials from the National Department of Human Settlements. Also, the study purposively selected five voluntary housing institutions (VHIs) (three from Gauteng and two from the Western Cape). These institutions are also involved in social rental housing. The study further conducted semi-structured interviews with the each of the managers of the same institutions, and thereafter had five focus group discussions with the beneficiaries (one from each) from the same organisations. The main finding from this process was that South Africa faces a serious challenge of urban poor housing, which is exacerbated by the...
D.Litt. et Phil. (Social Work)