The impact of rural -uban migration on the provision of sustainable and integrated human settlements in Atteridgeville township-Gauteng Province

Abstract

The study sought to establish the main drivers and associated consequences of rural -urban migration in Atteridgeville. The study used a qualitative method to gather in-depth insights into the phenomenon of rural-urban migration. The researcher spent time in trying to get an understanding from Atteridgeville community regarding their own experiences relating to the influx of people coming to reside in Atteridgeville and how this has affected human settlements and housing delivery. Participants involved in the study were the residents from Atteridgeville Township, officials from the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, officials from the National Department of Human Settlements, and officials from the Province’s Department of Human Settlements. The study investigated the types of interventions by the City Of Tshwane and the Department of Human Settlements to address the challenges posed by rural - urban migration in the provision of sustainable and integrated human settlements. The study discovered that there are existing partnerships between the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and the National Department of Human Settlements through the National Informal Settlements Upgrading program (NUSP). The study also discovered that the City of Tshwane was purchasing land in regions and prioritised bulk installation for residents in Atteridgeville to get service stands rather than houses, as the development process of a township takes too long. The study found that 30% of the participants originated from Limpopo province. This was the highest percentage compared to other provinces. About 37% of the participants were still on the waiting list for RDP houses, having submitted their application over 15 years back. This was associated with the corruption that was rife in the allocation of houses, as some applicants were paying bribes to get houses. During interaction with the participants, the study found that corruption was rife in the allocation of houses, as some officials were taking bribes from the applicants to fast-track their applications. This required government to intensify the fight against these unethical practices and ensure that those who are found to be involved in such practices are brought to book. The findings of the study suggest that the housing delivery related challenges are extensive and require great effort between all stakeholders (government and private sector) if they are to be addressed. The study further found that intergovernmental relations and integrated planning were key in the provision of sustainable and integrated human settlements and that public participation needed to be at the centre of service delivery programmes. The study recommended that the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipalities continue to embark on benchmarking engagements with other municipalities facing similar challenges.