Article

Housing problems and solutions in South Africa

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Abstract

Since the first democratic elections in South Africa in April 1994, a new housing policy was formulated to replace the one of the previous Government. Together with this, a national housing subsidy scheme was introduced to help the low income groups to become first time homeowners. Promises that were made prior to the 1994 elections left people with expectations of three bedroom houses for each family. Unfortunately, today this is not the case as the available subsidy is not even enough to provide a serviced plot and build a house of an acceptable size and standard. To add to this, the unemployed and low income groups do not qualify for additional finances. The next elections will be held in 1999 and all parties involved in the housing industry are under pressure from regional, central and Local Government and the homeless to deliver suitable homes. The objective of the new housing policy is to not only house the nation with the limited resources available, but also to correct the wrongs of the past i.e. apartheid era. Economic empowerment, education, skills training and community involvement are part of the housing policy to uplift the poorest of the poor. The housing process in South Africa is not only a process of building houses but also an educational process. Circumstances vary from community to community and the problems and solutions vary from area to area. Various innovative ideas and processes, together with alternative finances, help to solve the housing problems. The purpose of this paper is to describe the problems relating to the provision of housing in South Africa and the financial and other options to make these problems become solutions. Emphasis is being placed on the combined effort of Local Government and private enterprise hi a number of low cost housing and infrastructure projects implemented in the Western Cape.

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