Assessing the upgrading of informal settlement programme in Johannesburg, South Africa : a ten-year review (2014-2024)

Motebang Daniel Matsela

The Upgrading of Informal Settlement Programme (UISP) in Johannesburg, South Africa, has been a crucial intervention in addressing housing needs over the last decade. The programme focuses on in-situ upgrades, which provide basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity and securing land tenure without displacing communities. Despite its strides, UISP faces significant hurdles, including resource limitations, bureaucratic delays, and difficulties in securing land tenure rights. The rapid growth of informal settlements has often outpaced the UISP’s capacity, leading to disparities in service delivery. As a result, this study reviews the UISP from 2014 to 2024, assessing its benefits for human settlements practitioners and identifying the critical issues obstructing its success in reducing homelessness. It evaluated the effectiveness of UISP through various measuring tools and analysed factors that have influenced UISP over ten years. Additionally, the research identified success factors and explored strategies for improving the UISP over the next decade. Data collection involved both primary sources gathered through questionnaires and secondary sources, namely a literature review. The questionnaires were administered to policymakers, government officials, and consultants actively engaged in UISP in Johannesburg. Out of the one hundred and fifty (150) administered questionnaires, 126 responses were received, representing an 84 per cent response rate. The questionnaire’s reliability was ensured through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient reliability test for the scaled research questions. Data analysis was conducted in three stages: data reliability and validity, descriptive statistics, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The findings indicate that effectiveness measures include government and institutional performance, economic impact, community data, intergovernmental relations, monitoring and evaluation, housing quality, infrastructure delivery, health and social impact, and participatory evaluation and process accountability. Conclusively, the study emphasised that enhancing upgrading initiatives requires an understanding of socio-economic, infrastructure, health, and social impact assessment tools, with a focus on reducing communicable diseases and non-inclusive urban planning. Furthermore, the study recommends in-situ upgrading, a city-wide approach, long-term strategic planning, health and environmental sustainability, improved funding, technological innovation, infrastructure development, and active beneficiary participation.

Assessing the upgrading of informal settlement programme in Johannesburg, South Africa : a ten-year review (2014-2024)

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