South Africa: Informal settlements status - The HDA

1 South africa : Informal settlements status research series published by the housing development agencyreSeArch reportSSOUTH africa research reportthe housing development agency (hda)Block A, Riviera Office Park,6 10 Riviera Road,Killarney, JohannesburgPO Box 3209, Houghton, South africa 2041 Tel: +27 11 544 1000 Fax: +27 11 544 1006/7 Acknowledgements Eighty 20 The Housing Development Agency 2012disclaimerReasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this report. The information contained herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate and reliable. The Housing Development Agency does not assume responsibility for any error, omission or opinion contained herein, including but not limited to any decisions made based on the content of this africa research reportpAge 1contentsPart 1: Introduction 4 Part 2: Data sources and definitions Survey and Census data Other Data from Statistics South africa National Department of Human settlements (NDHS) Land and Property Spatial Information System (LaPsis) Eskom s Spot Building Count (also known as the Eskom Dwelling Layer) Other providers of data.

2 National Geo-spatial Information, GeoTerraImage and Community Organisation Resource Centre National Geo-spatial Information GeoTerraImage Community Organisation Resource Centre (CORC) Summary of national data sources Provincial and municipal data How to read this report 21 Part 3: the number and size of informalsettlements in South africa Estimating the number of households who live in Informal settlements Estimating the number of Informal settlements in South africa 31pAge 2 South africa research reportPart 4: profiling Informal settlements in South africa Basic living conditions and access to services Profile of households and families Income, expenditure and other indicators of wellbeing Income Expenditure Other indicators of well-being Age of dwellings and permanence Housing waiting lists and subsidy housing Health and vulnerability Education 51 Part 5: concluding comments Definitions and demarcation of Informal settlements Household surveys Satellite imagery and aerial photography Data generated by municipalities or other service providers Conclusions 55 Part 6: contacts and references 57 Part 7: Appendix.

3 Statistics South africa surveys Community Survey 2007 General Household Survey Income and Expenditure Survey 2005/6 Census 2001 Enumerator Areas 60contentsSOUTH africa research reportcorc Community Organisation Resource Centreea Enumeration Areaghs General Household Surveygis Geographical Information Systemsgti GeoTerraImagehda Housing Development Agencyhh Householdsies Income and Expenditure Surveylapsis Land and Property Spatial Information Systemndhs National Department of Human Settlementspsu Primary Sampling Unitstats sa Statistics South AfricaList of abbreviationspAge 3pAge 4 South africa research reportIn terms of the HDA Act No. 23, 20081, the Housing Development Agency (HDA), is mandated to assist organs of State with the upgrading of Informal settlements .

4 The HDA therefore commissioned this study to investigate the availability of data and to analyse the data relating to the profile, status and trends in Informal settlements in South africa , nationally and provincially as well as for some of the larger per the project Terms of Reference, the scope of the analysis includes: Establishing the national, provincial and local databases and information sources where the necessary information can be obtained Highlighting the limitations of each of the data sources and the extent of validity and reliability of the data sources as well as possible refinement and further work that would be required to improve the data quality on an ongoing basis, specifically for Informal settlements Providing a national profile and status quo indication of the Informal settlements and, depending on the data, providing inter alia.

5 Number of Informal settlements Growth, and development of the settlements Land and land holding information relating to Informal settlements Physical conditions of the settlements Services, facilities, infrastructure and access in the settlement (both government and other) Profile of residents/households/families residing in the settlements Income groups residing in Informal settlements Employment status and potential Vulnerability in the settlements Disability Migration, mobility of the residents Length of stay and reason for stay Aspirations of residents Education status of residents Providing a provincial profile and status quo of Informal settlements Providing municipal profiles per province of the Informal settlement in larger municipalities linked to the provincial and national data Provide insight into the overall and specific trends evident in Informal settlements in South africa as well as in specific provinces and well as potential implications of the trends for different sectors Provide insight into Informal settlement trends as they relate to other housing options.

6 Initiatives and 1 Introduction1 The HDA Act , 2008, Section 7 (1) 5 South africa research reportPopulation estimates and other indicators for households that live in Informal settlements are generated by Statistics South africa . Eighty20 conducted a thorough review of all available survey data as well as the 2001 Census data. Findings of this analysis were presented to two working groups for comment and input. The analysis together with that input are summarised in the body of this report. In addition, Statistics South africa s latest dwelling frame data2 was obtained to identify the location and size of Informal settlements in the was also obtained from the National Department of Human settlements as well as the HDA both of which rely principally on data collected by other entities such as provincial departments, municipalities and private companies.

7 Provinces and municipalities collect data on Informal settlements using survey and non-survey methodologies most typically through aerial photography. While this methodology cannot provide a detailed profile of the households in the settlement it can provide a basis to estimate the number of structures, households and individuals that are in each settlement . In some cases municipalities augment this data with internally generated data on municipal service provision as well as the location of points of service (such as education, health care and transport). Eighty20 engaged with each province and the larger municipalities (where possible) via email and telephonic communications in order to obtain and understand these estimates and also obtained data from other entities that collect data either nationally or at a settlement level.

8 This includes Eskom which maintains a dwelling count database derived from aerial photography as well as community-based organisations such as CORC which enumerate settlements as part of their aim of this report is to understand and contrast these various data sources, review methodologies, compare estimates and highlight any inconsistencies that may arise. The report will also identify key gaps and weaknesses within the body of data relating to Informal settlements and where appropriate make some recommendations relating to data collection going This data has been used to demarcate enumeration areas for the 2011 6 South africa research reportA number of data sources have been used for this study.

9 These include household level data from the 2001 Census and various nationally representative surveys conducted by Statistics South africa (Stats SA). settlement level data was also reviewed, including municipal data, data from the National Department of Human settlements , the Housing Development Agency and is critical when using data to be aware of its derivation and any potential biases or weaknesses within the data. Each data source is therefore discussed in turn and any issues pertaining to the data are Survey and census dataHousehold-level data for this report was drawn from various nationally representative surveys conducted by Statistics South africa including the 2007 Community Survey (CS)3, the General Household Survey (GHS) from 2002 to 2009 and the 2005/6 Income and Expenditure Survey (IES)4.

10 In addition, the study reviewed data from the 2001 Census5. It is important to note that none of these surveys focus specifically on households in Informal settlements ; questionnaires cover housing and household conditions more generally. While these data sources are all based on interviews with households, estimates are expected to differ given that different research periods and sampling frames are used. In some cases these differences can be quite significant. Data sources are therefore clearly census defines an Informal settlement as: An unplanned settlement on land which has not been surveyed or proclaimed as residential, consisting mainly of Informal dwellings (shacks).