Urban Upgrading in South Africa: Policy and Reality

Author(s)
Martin, R.
Publication language
English
Pages
27pp
Date published
01 Mar 2010
Type
Research, reports and studies
Keywords
Governance, Urban, Urban design/planning
Countries
South Africa
Organisations
International Housing Coalition

Typically, especially in Africa, governments endorse “enabling environment” policies (e.g. site and service projects or in situ upgrading,) but they don’t implement them. There are technical issues, which are used as a device to resist such policies, and underlying these technical positions are old-fashioned prejudices regarding the appearance of the city, and the risks of giving power to the poor. Informal settlements do not conform to town planning and township regulations, and those responsible for upgrading will find excuses for not doing it. Slum upgrading requires an inclusive and participatory way of working to which conventional engineering and town planning have scant relevance.