The rapid urbanisation and migration to urban centres have exacerbated the housing backlog, and this surge has outpaced housing solutions in KwaZulu-Natal. 

A report on the implementation of the informal settlement upgrading programme within KZN was presented by the Department of Human Settlements to the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements on Friday. 

The department stated in its report that many residents are unable to access formal housing due to economic constraints and limited availability, and resort to establishing informal dwellings.

This surge has outpaced the provincial government’s capacity to provide adequate housing solutions, leading to a substantial backlog in formal housing provision.

The department stated that, as outlined in the National Housing Code, projects are implemented through a four-phase approach. They are:

• Phase 1. Application: Municipalities apply to provincial Human Settlements departments for funding for informal settlement upgrading, submitting interim business plans with their applications.
• Phase 2. Project Initiation: Activities like acquiring land, understanding the settlement’s demographics, installing interim services, conducting pre-planning studies, and developing a business plan.

• Phase 3. Project Implementation:  The actual construction of infrastructure and housing, focusing on enhancing serviced sites and providing necessary facilities.
• Phase 4. Consolidation: Involves further development and improvement of the upgraded settlement, potentially including housing consolidation and community development.

The department stated that the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUPG) was introduced as a window within the HSDG in the 2019/20 financial year. The window was intended to serve as a planning and preparation platform before it was established as a standalone grant in the 2021/22 financial year.

The ISUPG specifically targets the upgrading of informal settlements to increase investment in in-situ upgrading. It emphasises building partnerships with communities to develop and execute informal settlement upgrading strategies.

The funds are to be used to identify informal settlements in need of upgrading, provide households with security of tenure, and deliver municipal engineering services.

The department has made substantial progress in upgrading informal settlements, with a total of 103 plans completed across the province. 

It added that plans are intended to assist it in ascertaining cost estimates for infrastructure provisions that are pivotal in upgrading informal settlements. Therefore, these plans serve as a roadmap for upgrading informal settlements within the province.

“The upgrading plans further provide categorisation of informal settlements, which is necessary as it guides upgrading and intervention required. These categories guide the approach to providing basic services, ensuring security of tenure, and potentially relocating residents.”  

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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