Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (former Departments)

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Browsing Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (former Departments) by Author "Cornelissen, Celeste"

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    Moving towards 'humanising' housing : a closer look at the issues surrounding housing provision in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001-12) Cornelissen, Celeste; Muller, J. I.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences. Dept. of Sustainable Development Planning and Management.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: After many years of fragmentation and inequity, the new housing policy envisages "the establishment and maintenance of habitable, stable and sustainable public and private environments to ensure viable households and communities in areas allowing convenient access to economic opportunities, and to health, educational and social amenities" (Housing White Paper, 1994:21). It appears, however, given the size of the housing backlog (currently estimated by the Housing Minister at 2,8 million units) and the general form housing provision has taken, that the overall vision of what should be accomplished through housing development have taken the backseat to rapid housing production in the country. In practice, inhabitants of recently undertaken housing projects are to a large extent still denied access to the city and its opportunities. Recent housing projects reflect government's view that the solution to the housing problem lies in the packaged production of physical housing units, choosing to define the housing problem only in terms of "housing production and technical and engineering efficiency " (Noero, 2000: 1). This approach have been described by Noero as being naive and criticised for its ability to be counterproductive by failing to address the full spectrum of needs in the lives of people. The limited definition of housing further stands in opposition to the extensive definition of housing found in policy documents. This study, with the help of a case study of one such housing project, explored some of the dominant issues surrounding current housing provision in South Africa, and the problems associated with it. It sought to establish that current housing provision is far removed from the overall aims and objectives set out for housing development by the new housing policy. This study considered some ways of bringing housing delivery closer to the vision of housing as an engine of growth and change.