A review of beneficiary participation in the delivery of low income housing in South Africa

Abstract

Adequate housing is recognised as part of the right to an adequate standard of living and that it must meet the following minimum conditions: security of tenure; availability of services, materials, facilities and infrastructure; affordability; habitability; accessibility; location; and cultural adequacy. Many Governments around the world in their attempt to deliver adequate housing and related infrastructure overlook the importance of the contribution of beneficiaries in the delivery process. This study is mainly a literature review of existing published and unpublished research on the role and participation of beneficiaries in the delivery of low-income housing in South Africa. The study also examines published case studies of three of self-help housing projects implemented in South Africa, to deduce lessons from the studies. Preliminary findings suggest that where communities are in control, their homes are better and cheaper than those built through government programmes and large corporations. The participation of beneficiaries could enhance the delivery of adequate housing by government and thereby reduce the dependency of beneficiaries on the state. To enhance their participation, beneficiaries require certain capacities and therefore governments should facilitate the creation of these capacities