Exploring the effects of housing crisis in developing rural townships: case of Josefa rural township in Soweto, South Africa

Abstract

The study investigates issues of housing faced by the community of Josefa. It assesses the impact of housing crisis in this township of Soweto, Josefa, South Africa. It is being conducted against the background of the country’s achievements since democracy in 1994. At the time, people were promised that there will be changes, ranging from equality and good access to service delivery. However, many South Africans including some residents of Josefa, continue to experience housing crisis. In Josefa area, most people are living in backyard shacks. In this study, the researcher used snowball sampling technique, to select a sample from the population. Secondary data collection method entailed reviewing secondary documents such as books and articles from journals, internet, and newspapers. Primary data collection entailed collecting data from selected research participants through conducting in-depth telephonic interviews. The study also discusses the importance of social housing in addressing housing issues in areas of Soweto, Josefa. The result of the study shows that there is still a huge gab in addressing housing provisioning in Josefa area. People still depend on back yard shacks as a primary source of dwelling and paying rent. The residents blame the government for failing fulfil their promise made after apartheid in 1994, to provide good service delivery. In terms of land acquisition, high urbanisation and migration contributed to municipality inability to provide effect service delivery especially housing provisioning. The results of the study will contribute to ensuring access to basic housing service provision by recommending measures to address policy gaps. This will ensure policy responsiveness and promote the citizens’ socio-economic development and empowerment, because their quality of lives will be enhanced.

Lolu cwaningo lucwaninga ngezinkinga zezindlu ezibhekene nomphakathi waseJosefa. Luhlola umthelela wenkinga yezindlu eJosefa, ilokishi laseSoweto, eNingizimu Afrika. Ucwaningo lwenziwe ngenxa yempumelelo yezwe kusukela ekuqaleni kombuso wentando yeningi ngo-1994. Ngaleso sikhathi, abantu bathenjiswa ukuthi kuzoba nezinguquko ezifana nokulingana kuya ekulethweni kwezidingo zomphakathi. Nokho, abantu abaningi baseNingizimu Afrika, kuhlanganise nezakhamuzi zaseJosefa, basabhekene nenkinga yezindlu. Endaweni yaseJosefa, abantu abaningi bahlala emijondolo engemuva kwezindlu. Kulolu cwaningo, umcwaningi usebenzise indlela yokusampula yokuthola abanye abantu ngokuyalelwa abanye asebeyiphendulile imibuzo ukuze akhethe abanye. Indlela eqavile yokuqoqa imininingo ifake kuyo ukuyiqoqa ngokuba nezingxoxo ezijulile ngocingo nababambiqhaza abakhethiwe. Indlela yesibili yokuqoqwa kwemininingo ifake kuyo ukubukeza eminye imiqulu efana nezincwadi nemibhalo ekumajenali ahlonishwayo, ku-intanethi kanye nakumaphephandaba. Ucwaningo ludingida ukubaluleka kokubhekana nezinkinga zezindlu ezindaweni ezinjengaseJosefa eSoweto. Imiphumela yocwaningo ikhombisa ukuthi kusenesidingo esikhulu sokuhlinzekwa kwezindlu endaweni yaseJosefa. Abantu basancike ekukhokheni irenti emijondolo engemuva kwezindlu njengokuyiyona ndlela eqavile yokuba nendawo yokuhlala. Izakhamuzi zisola uhulumeni ngokwehluleka ukufeza izithembiso zakhe zokuhlinzekwa kwezidingo zomphakathi ezenziwa ngenkathi kuqedwa uBandlululo ngo-1994. Izinga eliphakeme lokushintshela kumadolobha nokufuduka linomthelela ekuhlulekeni komasipala ukuhlinzeka izidingo ngempumelelo, ikakhulukazi ukuhlinzeka izindlu. Imiphumela yalolu cwaningo izoba negalelo ekuqinisekiseni ukufinyelela kwabantu ekutholakaleni kwezindlu eziyisisekelo ngokuncoma izinyathelo okumele zithathwe ukubhekana nezinkinga zenqubomgomo. Lokhu kuzoqinisekisa ukusabela kwenqubomgomo futhi kukhuthaze ukuthuthukiswa kwenhlalomnotho yezakhamuzi kuphinde kunikeze amandla ngoba izingabunjalo lezimpilo zazo lizothuthuka.

Dyondzo yi lavisisa timhaka ta tindlu leti langutaneke na vaaki vaka Josefa. Yi hlela ntshikelelo wa swiphiqo swa tindlu eka Josefa, dorobatsongo leri kumekaka Soweto,e Afrika Dzonga. Dyondzo yi endliwile ehenhla ka xiyimo xa ku humelela ka tiko ku sukela ku sungula ka xidimokirasi hi 1994. Hi nkarhi wolowo, vanhu va tshembhisiwile leswaku ku ta va na ku cinca loku ku nga ta sukela eka ndzingano ku ya eka mphakelo wa vukorhokeri. Hambiswiritano, MaAfrika Dzonga votala, ku katsa vatshami va ka Josefa, va ya emahlweni va hlangana na swiphiqo swa tindlu. Eka ndhawu ya ka Josefa, vanhu va tshama emikhukhwini ya le handle ka majarata. Eka dyondzo leyi, mulavisisi u tirhisile thekiniki ya sampulu yo lava vanhu ku hlawula sampulu ku suka eka tlawa wa vanhu. Maendlelo ya nhlengeleto wa datara ya masungulo ya katsile ku hlengeleta datara hi ku endla tiinthavhiyu to burisana hi riqingho na vatekaxiave lava hlawuriweke. Maendlelo ya nhlengeleto wa datara yavumbirhi ya katsile ku langutisisa hi vuntshwa tidokhumente ta vumbirhi to fana na tibuku na tiatikili to huma eka tijenali leti tekeriwaka enhlokweni, inthanete na maphephahungu. Dyondzo yi kanela nkoka wa ku ololoxa swiphiqo swa timhaka ta tindlu eka tindhawu to fana na le ka Josefa eSoweto. Mbuyelo wa dyondzo wu kombisa leswaku ka ha ri na xilaveko xa mphakelo wa tindlu eka ndhawu ya ka Josefa. Vanhu va ha hakela rhente ya mikhukhu ya le handle ka majarata tanihi tindlu ta vona. Vatshami va sola mfumo eka ku tsandzeka ku hetisisa switshembhiso swa wona swa mphakelo wa kahle wa vukorhokeri leswi endliweke loko ku herisiwa Xihlawuhlawu hi 1994. Mimpimo yo ya emadorobeni hi xiyimo xa le henhla na ku rhura swi nghenisa xiave eka ku tsandzeka ka timasipala ku va ti nyika vukorhokeri lebyi hetisekeke, ngopfu ngopfu bya mphakelo wa tindlu. Mbuyelo wa dyondzo leyi wu ta nghenisa xiave eka ku tiyisisa mfikelelo wa tindlu hi ku bumabumela magoza yo ololoxa mavangwa ya pholisi. Leswi swi ta tiyisisa ku hlamula ka pholisi na ku phuromota nhluvukiso wa ikhonomi ya vaaki na ku nyikiwa matimba hikuva nkoka wa vutomi bya vona wu ta tlakusiwa.