Trends and realities: provision of low-cost housing at King Cetshwayo District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

Abstract

Housing is one of the basic human needs, however, a shortage of adequate shelter continues to be a global problem. Provision of housing through state assisted programmes is often criticised for being number-centred ignoring livelihood aspects such as unemployment, affordability and inequality. This paper aims to review trends and realities of low-cost housing provision. It examines provisions in terms of who benefits and what constitutes access to quality and adequacy of human settlements. A sample of 169 households was drawn using both systematic sampling and purposive sampling methods. Documentary evidence was used and empirical field-based research was conducted using in-depth interviews and a structured observation checklist. The content analysis method and SPSS was used to analyse the data. Trends in housing provision are determined by state provision with partial benefits accorded certain sectors of the population. Inequality in provision with discrepancies in access to housing was found to be gender-biased. Higher rates of unemployment and the absence of income have negative implications on affordability and the development of sustainable human settlements. Factors cited as contributing to housing problems include gender inequality, unemployment, allocation procedures and communication gaps as well as corruption and fraud practices. Perpetual gender inequality regarding access to housing was observed and this calls for the adoption of a gender-based lenses where housing provision is concerned. The reality remains that, provision of housing is not the only remedy to challenges faced by intended beneficiaries’ adequacy, affordability, sustainability, and livelihood generation have to be considered in low-cost housing development processes, policy formulation and implementation.