Ald Aaron Maluleka
MMC for Human Settlements
By Ald Aaron Maluleka
MMC for Human Settlements
The City of Tshwane Council approved the Informal Settlements Management Policy
during its ordinary February Council sitting, marking a significant step toward managing the rapid proliferation of informal settlements across the municipality.
The approval follows an extensive investigation conducted by the City with the support of the Cities Support Programme (CSP) from National Treasury Department.
The process revealed that upgrading or relocating all existing informal settlements in Tshwane would require an estimated R32.5 billion, a figure that far exceeds the City’s current budget and available resources.
Tshwane, like other metropolitan municipalities in South Africa, has experienced an influx of residents over the past decades, with growth accelerating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City has identified 502 informal settlements, reflecting a demand for low-income housing and rental accommodation.
Of these, 194 informal settlements (comprising 355,945 structures) are categorised as able to be upgraded in situ and 308 (comprising 151,707 structures) are categorised to be relocated.
The substantial work in this regard is currently underway.
The unplanned expansion of informal settlements has pushed the urban edge
outward, contributing to spatial inefficiencies, environmental pressures, and socioeconomic marginalisation.
In several instances, settlements have developed in rural character areas with limited access to basic infrastructure and municipal services.
The Informal Settlements Management Policy provides a structured and strategic framework to guide the regulation, prevention, upgrading, and, where necessary, relocation of informal settlements within available fiscal constraints.
The policy aligns with the City’s strategic priorities to:
•Build a business-friendly city that promotes employment and economic growth;
•Maintain a clean and protected natural environment; and
•Create a healthy and vibrant city for all residents.
The Department of Human Settlements, mandated to regulate and guide human
settlements development, identified critical gaps in statistical data relating to the number of informal settlements and households within them, as well as shortcomings in existing management frameworks.
The newly approved policy seeks to improve planning coordination and ensure
evidence-based decision-making.
The City of Tshwane remains committed to working collaboratively with communities, provincial and national government, and other stakeholders to develop sustainable, inclusive, and financially viable housing solutions.
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