Abstract
M.Ed.
This research essay is an endeavour to gather the Etwatwa community views on those socioeconomical environmental problems facing them. The Etwatwa informal settlement
experienced rapid growth, resulting in this community being unable to enjoy a healthy
environment. Some of the people who moved to this area were unemployed, immigrants and tenants from the old Daveyton Township, all desperately in need of accommodation.
Lack of accommodation caused them to occupy the reserved area unlawfully with no resources to build proper shacks. By means of intensive investigation conducted through interviews, observation and a survey questionnaire, a conclusion was drawn that there is a dire need to reawaken this community concerning self-empowerment so as to alleviate their problems. This study will focus on collecting community views, since different problems affect them. Findings from this study suggests that the Etwatwa informal settlement community waits for things to happen while they observe the situation. Evidence also suggests that this community lack initiative and have self-pity. The local authorities cannot provide for their needs thereby changing the present situation, but all depends upon them improving their life-style by combining their skills to create jobs for themselves. Parents' lack of responsibility towards their children's education also promotes an uneducated society.