Where the work of others has been used, it is duly acknowledged in the text. Therefore, there is a need to review and assess the changing policies and perceptions of the sustainability of low-cost housing projects by key stakeholders to create an integrated picture that can help ensure housing and environmental sustainability.
P ROBLEM S TATEMENT
It is the researcher's claim that only sustainable housing that takes environmental, economic and social considerations into account can achieve the various goals that are expected. It is a basic need; a productive asset with important macroeconomic linkages; a share in the city system; it is shelter in the basic sense of protection from the elements; an asset from which income can be obtained through various uses such as the creation of rental space or productive space in the home; it is security; security of access to credit; and an investment for the future accumulation of value to be realized in a possible resale or through generational transmission”.
A IM AND O BJECTIVES
Engage local communities as critical stakeholders in decision-making about the use of the open spaces around their homes and in the communities. Create an integrated picture of trends in roles and perceptions of sustainability in the form of a system diagram.
S UMMARY AND S TRUCTURE OF THE D ISSERTATION
Identify perceptions of the sustainability of low-cost housing projects by the above-mentioned stakeholders. The chapter begins with a literature review on low-cost housing policy at the global, national and municipal levels and concludes with a conceptual framework of the study.
H OUSING P OLICY
Historical and global context of low cost housing
It is the researcher's view that sustainable settlement development can appropriately contribute to achieving all MDGs. In 2005, about a fifth of the urban population in the developing world lived in overcrowded housing (with more than three people sharing a bedroom); two-thirds of these were in Asia, and half in South Asia (United Nations, The Millennium Development Goals Report, 2007).
South African Context
- Migration patterns
This section examined trends in housing policy on a global scale, while the next section will focus on policy trends within South Africa. iii). After discussing the national context of housing policy trends in this section, the next section discusses policy issues at the municipal level.
Municipal Context
The Council also endeavors to ensure affordability by setting rates in relation to the Council's Tariff Policy which will balance the viability of continued service provision and determine appropriate service levels (Msunduzi Municipality, 2006). The chapter's opening statement indicates that in order to have a sustainable housing policy and practice the four principles of future, environment, equality and participation are fundamental.
S USTAINABILITY
In terms of human settlements, issues such as sanitation, drainage and solid waste disposal are important indicators of the state of the environment. Many of the unsustainable policies and practices arise from a failure to truly involve people in decision-making.
I NTEGRATED A SSESSMENT
The South African National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) actively promotes integrated environmental management. This is achieved through the development and implementation of environmental policy and legislation; as well as training, communication and awareness programs.
P ARTICIPATORY D EVELOPMENT
In South Africa there are strategies to increase public participation especially at the local government level. Identifying the role of the IDP office and official as agents of change in relation to public participation, determining who is responsible for public participation.
S USTAINABLE H UMAN S ETTLEMENTS
The value of foreigners' contribution will be measured in terms of people's increased capacity to determine their own future. This is reflected in the White Paper on Reconstruction and Development (1994), the Constitution (1996), the White Paper on Local Government (1998) and the Municipal Systems Act (2000). These, as well as the durability of built houses, will prevent people from returning to shacks or turning formal settlements into slums.
It is the operationalization of these policies and programs, especially at the municipal level, that determines the degree of sustainability of the housing projects and subsequent human settlements.
C ONCEPTUAL F RAMEWORK
Critical is the lack of sufficient skills to transform these goals into tangible goods at the municipality and community level compared to the huge demand for housing.
S UMMARY
This chapter provides context for the study by highlighting the geographical location of the study area and describing the settlement of Ambleton. The main instruments for data collection were a structured questionnaire for home owners and semi-structured questionnaires for other key stakeholders.
C ONTEXT
Access to the site is via the R56 (P5-4) 10 kilometers south of the center of Pietermaritzburg (Figure 3.1). The property in question is part of the land that was purchased by the Provincial Administration in the early 1990s. Some of the houses have been improved and maintained as shown in Table 3.3, while others remain in their original construction condition (Tables 3.1 and 3.2).
They have toilets inside the houses, although some have built some outside due to the faulty design of the interiors.
A MBLETON E NVIRONMENTAL M ANAGEMENT P LAN
M ETHODOLOGY
- Household and Key Informant Surveys
- Questionnaires
- Pilot study
- Access to Homeowners
- Data Analysis
The sample of homeowners was randomly selected based on five groups created by the topography of the study area. Clusters and houses were identified using an aerial photograph of the study area collected from the Msunduzi Municipality GIS unit. Cover letters were also written to introduce and explain the nature of the study and are also included in Appendix 3.
The subsequent pie charts, tables and graphs generated were used in the interpretation of the data.
L IMITATIONS OF THE S TUDY
S UMMARY
Perceptions of Ambleton's sustainability focus on housing provision, service provision, use of open spaces and house design.
D EMOGRAPHIC D ATA OF HOMEOWNERS INTERVIEWED
- Education Levels
- Source of Livelihood
- Residents per house
- Income Levels
- Summary of Demographic Data
The bar graph in Figure 4.1 below shows that five (10%) of the householders interviewed had never been to school, nine (18%) had been to primary school, 32 (64%) had some level of secondary education (including those who achieved matriculation as well as dropouts) and four (8%) had completed tertiary education. The pie chart in Figure 4.2 below shows that twenty-two (44%) respondents were employed, three (6%) in business and twenty-five (50%) had other sources of livelihood, including pensions and grants. The above demographic data shows that most of the respondents (64%) have only attended high school.
38 percent of respondents earn between R0 and R800 per month, meaning they have less than one dollar ( The municipality's minimum building standards for the top structure are higher than those of the DOH. Some of the plantations and open spaces located centrally in the city can be freed up for housing development. It was also involved in educating the community about the state subsidy. According to a trust official interviewed, county committees, which have never existed before, need to be established to facilitate communication between the community and the municipality. Around the house Within the Community Phase two houses were plastered and painted with the same design and size, while phase one houses were not and this seems to allow for better maintained housing in the former. Differences in size of the structures based on the number of dependents of the applicant. It was observed that the homeowners' response, when asked about what they thought could improve their homes and/or communities in the questionnaire (after question 48), was that they would be more comfortable if their toilets were better designed. Containers located in various places are being used as mobile communication stores due to lack of built stores. In general all stakeholders were of the opinion that the low cost housing projects and Ambleton in particular were unsustainable for various reasons mentioned in this chapter. INTRODUCTION Personal and property security were perceived as very low by the majority of residents, a reflection of national opinion. The municipality's poverty policy will contribute to the sustainability of the settlement, especially if those who cannot really afford to pay for basic services are informed and apply for it. They also mention the importance of the poverty policy just like the DOH official does. BESG's view of releasing some of the city's centrally located open spaces and plantations for low-cost housing development could be an alternative after consultation with all stakeholders and planning. The need for education for homeowners was also mentioned by municipal officials and BESG. The view of twenty nine percent of the respondents that the space should be used for business is also applicable as there is a need for shops and a market as shown in section 5.2 above. Community engagement in the use of open space in their area ensures that the municipality makes a decision that is supported by the community and thus likely to be sustainable. Currently, municipal officials seem to be unaware of the actual situation in the study area as they do not physically visit the site. Even when feedback is given to municipal officials, they feel they have no forum to channel it upwards into the political decision-making base. The upgrading that takes place within the study area is a positive thing that contributes to the sustainability of the settlement. EMP has been developed and implemented with the involvement of society (environmental and participatory principles). There is currently no input from. A review of the application of integrated environmental management by national government departments in South Africa. Which of the following services are provided to your house and how do you rate them? Which of the following services are offered in your settlement and how do you rate them. I am prepared to be available every day for the next two weeks at your convenience. QUESTIONNAIRE FOR HOMEOWNERS-ENGLISH (A) AND ISIZULU (B) . 86 I am doing a dissertation research entitled: Evolving Stakeholders' Roles And Perceptions Of Sustainability Of Low Cost Housing Developments In Msunduzi Municipality. The research objectives are concerned with the changing roles and perceptions of stakeholders in the sustainability of low-cost housing developments as policy changes since 1994. I aim to develop an integrated picture of the overall trends in roles, perceptions and sustainability indicators that will guide, correct and evaluate the decisions and actions of the various stakeholders. The Municipality Department of Housing, being a key stakeholder and on the recommendation of Val Spearman of Msunduzi Municipality Housing Unit, I am requesting to have an audience with you and get your views on the above topic. A good road in Phase 1 of Ambleton. The view beyond the road is that of An open space in Ambleton Phase 1 with a container being used as a cell An upgraded house within Ambleton The aerial photograph of Ambleton showing the location of the surveyed Water running in a drainage canal due to leakages and broken pipes
C HANGING R OLES AND P ERCEPTIONS OF KEY STAKEHOLDERS ON HOUSING DELIVERY AND
H OMEOWNERS PERCEPTIONS OF ON USE OF OPEN SPACES
R ESEARCHER ’ S O BSERVATIONS
S UMMARY
DISCUSSION OF TRENDS IN THE ROLES PLAYED BY KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND
DISCUSSION OF THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY IN DECISION MAKING
CREATION AND DISCUSSION OF AN INTEGRATED PICTURE OF TRENDS IN
CONCLUSIONS
COVERING LETTERS: INTERVIEW REQUEST AND QUESTIONNAIRE
