INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN JOHANNESBURG A THEORETICAL EXAMINATION OF SPATIAL DESIGN TOOLS The following report analyses the informal settlements in Johannesburg, South Africa, and examines the lessons and opportunities that these slum morphologies provide, as well as exploring the design tools that will help in providing a better living environment for the urban poor. SPECI AL CATRIONA TATAM 13586577 SPECIAL TOPICS IN URBAN DESIGN, SEMESTER 2, 2010
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Assignment 1 [Informal Settlements in Johannesburg
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INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN JOHANNESBURG A THEORETICAL EXAMINATION OF SPATIAL DESIGN TOOLS The following report analyses the informal settlements in Johannesburg, South Africa, and examines the lessons and opportunities that these slum morphologies provide, as well as exploring the design tools that will help in providing a better living environment for the urban poor.
SPECI
AL
TOPI
CS IN
URBA
N
DESI
GN,
SEME
STER
2,
2010
CATRIONA TATAM 13586577
SPECIAL TOPICS IN URBAN DESIGN, SEMESTER 2, 2010
INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN JOHANNESBURG SPECIAL TOPICS IN URBAN DESIGN, SEMESTER 2, 2010
INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN JOHANNESBURG SPECIAL TOPICS IN URBAN DESIGN, SEMESTER 2, 2010
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Well constructed, well managed buildings which deliver value for money to low income
tenants who are viewed as clients leads to a culture of payment and participation (Mears,
1996). In the absence of amenities many of Soweto’s residents have created their own
social activities and burial societies and stokvels (the informal gathering of savings
amongst a group of people) form an important part of the social fabric, strengthening
bonds in families and communities (Crankshaw et al, 2000) [Figure 21]. The homes and
neighbourhoods developed by the urban poor often contain the seeds of an urban
development far more appropriate to local climate, culture and resources.
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URBAN FUTURES: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE HOUSING PROCESS
South Africa has made great strides in proving housing and basic services such as
electricity and water to the people of South Africa, despite not achieving its goal of 350,000
houses per year (Huchzermeyer, 2009). However, much remains to be done overcome the
housing backlog and make water and electricity available and affordable. Broad principles
of housing policy within the Soweto and Johannesburg area include people-centered
delivery and partnerships; skills transfer and economic empowerment; fairness and equity;
choice; quality and affordability; innovation; transparency, accountability and monitoring;
and sustainability and fiscal affordability (DoH, 2004).
Housing need is directly linked to human well-being (Van der Merwe & Van der Vuuren,
1992; Mears, 1996). There have been many formulations and definitions of well-being, but
most would agree that it includes basic material needs for a good life, the experience of
freedom, health, personal security and good social relations [Figure 22 & 23]. Together,
these provide the conditions for physical social, physiological and spiritual fulfilment
[Figure 24]. Aspects that contribute to material needs for a good life, include secure and
adequate livelihoods, enough food at all times and adequate shelter (GJMC, 1999). Aspects
that contribute to security include secure access to natural and other resources and living
in a predictable and controllable environment with security from natural and human-made
disasters. The type of dwelling and its location therefore plays an important role in human
well-being (GJMC, 1999; Marais et al, 2008).
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The provision of land to manage the urbanization process is, however, regarded as one of
the greatest development challenges faced by South Africa (Charlton & Kihato, 2006).
Urban land policies thus lie at the heart of any future housing strategies and state
intervention in land markets is vital to securing access by the urban poor to affordable, well
located land [Figure 25]. Structures for financing low income housing should be informed
by the specific needs, cultures, and financial capacities of the urban poor.
Although economic considerations should not be the only measure of the value of housing
in development, it is arguably self-evident that facilitating access to housing on a
sustainable basis would contribute to social stability and wellbeing, as well as to economic
growth. Housing development would have an indirectly positive impact on the economy
through stimulating demand, such as for building materials, construction related services,
and consumer goods in general, which in turn stimulate employment opportunities (Marais
et al, 2008).
Formalising settlements, which involves registering the properties, naming streets, and
putting in services, allows settlement dwellers will be given the land on which their
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dwelling has been erected, along with title deeds, thus formalising their ownership.
Investing in housing development should thus be regarded as essential to providing a
framework for social and economic development in a qualitative approach towards overall
economic growth (Aigbovboa & Thwala, 2010).
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The following principles and design tools would assist in providing better living
environments for the urban poor regarding the spatial development and arrangement of,
within and between settlements.
PRIORITY
Investment in new and existing settlement upgrading and redevelopment should focus on
localities with greatest economic potential (Crankshaw et al, 2000). Highest priority should
be given to localities where high levels of economic opportunity, livelihood opportunity
and need overlap. Lower priority should be given to areas where only high levels of
sustainable livelihoods potential and need overlap (Knight, 2001).
BALANCE
The location and development of human settlements should balance the use of resources
for infrastructure development and operation with the carrying capacity of ecosystems;
thus ensuring the wise use of natural resources and environmental service areas (DoH,
2005). Where areas of high priority (high levels of economic and sustainable livelihood
potential and need) and high environmental sensitivity overlap, the need for special
planning and management at the more local scale must be highlighted.
INTEGRATION
Intensity, diversity and priority of investment should increase, mainly along transport
corridors, from localities of concentrations of greatest need towards areas of greatest
economic potential to facilitate spatial integration particularly of displaced settlements
with areas of opportunity and potential (Van Zyl, 1995).
Settlements should be located and designed in such a way as to facilitate structural and
functional integration. For example there should be transport opportunities in a reasonable
walking distance from houses to connect residents to other modes of transport, job
opportunities and bigger shops and metropolitan facilities, as well as smaller shops and
parks in close proximity to housing developments to fulfill the immediate local needs of
residents. The man-made infrastructure should also be integrated with natural areas.
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CHOICE
In localities of low economic and livelihood potential but high levels of need, investment
should, over and above investment in basic services, focus on the development of people
through skills development and access to knowledge of opportunities; thus facilitating
choice and ability to move to areas of greater potential (Van der Merwe & Van Vuuren,
1992). The implication of continued investment in “place” rather than in “people” in these
areas of low economic and livelihood potential, is that existing spatial patterns of
development, originating in policies of separate development, become more firmly
entrenched and spatial restructuring will not occur (Knight, 2001).
INTENSITY AND DIVERSITY
The higher the level of economic potential of an area, the greater the intensity of
investment in higher density housing forms and in the provision of a greater range and
diversity of housing types and supporting services and the greater the mix of income levels
and activities should be (DoH, 2004). Settlements should ideally have many
neighbourhoods which offer different types of housing for different income groups to
facilitate social interaction between different groups and provide opportunities where the
wealthier residents can sponsor the establishment of facilities and events that the entire
neighbourhood can benefit from. In this way an integrated sense of ownership of the
neighbourhood can be created (McDonald, 1998).
The range of housing products should be broadened in appropriate localities to address the
extended and diverse needs of a range of people, including the elderly, people with
disabilities, children headed households, single headed households and migrant families.
The location of different types of housing in different regions should facilitate different
choices for people at different life stages and with specific needs (Marais et al, 2008).
[Figure 26]. Housing developments should also be combined with other land uses to reduce
the creation of dormitory neighbourhoods and address the needs of a range of residents,
including woman with children staying at home during the day, the elderly and the youth
(Knight, 2001).
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AFFORDABILITY
Differentiated need in terms of income levels must be considered in relation to housing
product so that lower cost housing products are targeted in localities with higher levels of
lower income need while more, higher density, higher cost housing products are targeted
in areas of higher income need (Charlton & Kihato, 2006).
CLUSTERING
Human settlements should offer a range of social, economic and recreational opportunities
in reasonable proximity to different housing types (Cotton & Franceys, 1991). By clustering
many of these opportunities in nodes or along specific development corridors in growth
centres will increase accessibility and maximise the economies of scale.
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REFERENCES
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2. Burgess, R. (1978) Petty Commodity Housing or Dweller Control? A Critique of John Turner’s View on Housing Policy. World Development. Volume 6, Issue 9/10.
3. Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (2005), Any Room for the Poor? Forced Evictions in Johannesburg, Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, Geneva.
4. Charlton, S. & Kihato, C. (2006), Reaching the poor? An analysis of the influences on the evolution of South Africa’s Housing Programme, in Democracy and Delivery: Urban Policy in South Africa, HSRC Press.
5. Community Survey (2007), Basic Results. Statistics South Africa, p. 2, [accessed at: www.statssa.gov.za/publications/CS2007Basic/CS2007Basic.pdf.]
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14. Hamdi, N; (1991) Housing Without Houses: Participation, Flexibility and Enablement. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.
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22. Mears, R. (1996) Improving Quality of life in Greater Soweto. Social Indicators Research. Volume 42, Issue3.
23. Morris, A; & Others. (1999) Change and Continuity: A Survey of Soweto in the 1990’s. Department of Sociology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
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28. The Housing Accord (1994), Housing the Nation (booklet), Botshabelo Summit, 27 October 1994.
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30. UN-Habitat (2005) Slum challenge and shelter delivery: meeting the millennium development goals. Paper prepared by the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Africa and Arab States and presented at the Amchud Expert Group, Durban, 31 January-4 February.
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32. Van Zyl, J. (1995) Need-based Development Strategy and the RDP: Some Broad Issues. Development paper 47, Development Bank of South Africa. Halfway House.
33. ALL PICTURES ARE SOURCED FROM FLICKR AND PHOTOSTOCK
34. MAPS SOURCED FROM GJMC (1999) Cities State of the Environment Project: Environmental Quality in Greater Johannesburg. Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council. [accessed at www.environment.gov.za/enviro-info]
35. DIAGRAM SOURCED FROM DoH (2005) Housing Atlas 2005. National Housing Spatial Investment Potential Atlas. Department of Housing, Republic of South Africa. [accessed at www.dhs.gov.za]