Abstract
The apartheid regime in pre-independent South Africa introduced and implemented policies, systems and processes that were oppressive towards Black people. Inclusive of these were laws that denied Black people access to Central Business Districts (CBD) in towns and cities and outlawed property ownership in White-only suburbs. Against this backdrop and using Burgersfort extension 10 Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) as a case study, this dissertation examined the progress made in post-apartheid South Africa in addressing apartheid legacy issues in informal settlements. This study investigated and analysed the factors which had huge impact on the development of informal settlements. The theoretical and conceptual framework for this study was drawn from the literature on municipal legislation and statutory frameworks. These were imperative for developing an understanding and appreciation of the key developmental challenges in informal settlements. The methodological underpinning of this study was quantitative in nature and relied on purposive sampling techniques which entailed developing questionnaires targeting key informants in the study area and key stakeholders. The key findings showed that the institutional inefficiencies and challenges leading to failure in forging development in the municipality were attributed to the municipal ward councillor together with the ward committee. The ward councillor and the ward committees play an integral part in this study as they represented the community, but the findings divulged a huge gap between the ward councillors and the ward committee.
Moreover, 93 % of the community respondents indicated that the municipality in its entirety was not effective in addressing service delivery challenges that are linked to the improvement of residents’ livelihoods. These challenges were further compounded by the apparent lack of financial resources specifically earmarked for the provision of services in Burgersfort extension 10 informal settlement. Owing to these challenges and other driving forces, it is necessary and urgent for the local government to embark on a programme of land acquisition targeting the area adjacent to the informal settlement to enable the informal settlers to advance integrated sustainable human settlement. The study proposed the establishment of public-private partnerships (PPP’s) to raise funds that will aid the municipality in formalizing the settlement.