Abstract
It has been 29 years since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, and the country has been struggling to tackle the social, spatial, political, and economic issues that have arisen as a result of apartheid. Despite numerous attempts to address these challenges, poverty and inequality continue to grow in the country, and this is directly linked to the lack of access to socio-economic services. The exclusivity that arises from this lack of access perpetuates poverty and inequality.
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of backyard rental businesses on the local economy, examining both the positive and negative effects on the community of Tembisa By doing so, the study aimed at offering valuable insights and recommendations for bolstering and amplifying the role of backyard rental businesses in fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth within townships. As part of the Sustainable Development Goals, the research focused into the principles of an inclusive community. The study specifically focused on the City of Ekurhuleni in Tembisa to assess the effectiveness of low-middle income housing developments in achieving the principles of effective participation, sharing in development opportunities, and protection of people with low incomes.
To understand and promote inclusive development in Tembisa, the researcher used a variety of methods to gather insights from both experts and residents. Based on their findings, the researcher made recommendations on how to achieve inclusive development in the community. However, the study could have been more extensive in scope and could benefit from further investigation into more complex urban development concepts, such as the role of nodal or regional development in creating inclusive communities.
Creating inclusive communities is a critical goal, and Private Public Partnerships (PPPs) and effective participation can be great vehicles to achieve it. Recent research has shown that low to middle income housing projects can improve access to social and economic services and enable the provision of quality services in a cost-effective manner in low-middle-income communities. In addition, essential services provision goes a long way in alleviating poverty and inequality. Therefore, acknowledging that people need access to quality basic services and involving them in the development of their communities is key to the role of providing sustainable settlements in creating inclusive communities.
Keywords: High unemployment rate, Housing Policy, Upgrade, Socio-economic, Backyard rental