An evaluation of state assisted human settlement development model: a case study of Duncan village and Reeston human settlement project in Buffalo city metropolitan municipality in the Eastern Cape.

This study undertook an extensive evaluation of state assisted Human Settlement development, with specific vigor on the case study of Reeston Human Settlement project in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape. This was motivated by a number of factors such as satisfaction issues in the area of Human settlements and the issues that continue to hinder the effective delivery of houses such as availability of land, the willingness of the beneficial to relocate to the allocated houses. South Africa is in its 24 years of democratic dispensation, the human settlements continue to be the thorn in a flesh in the government effectiveness. The existing legislation on the housing development serves as the cornerstone of development, housing theories also continue to be the guiding principles under which the development can flourish if followed to the latter. It is evident that, the democratic government in the country has delivered millions of houses to the beneficiaries, thus restoring dignity to many. However, there has been significant backlog of over 2.1 million houses. This is based on the housing waiting list available with the various Local Municipalities and the respective provinces department is Human Settlements. The objectives of the study was taken into consideration in ensuring congruence with the study aim. The objectives are stated below is to evaluate the application of Human settlement programmes, policy imperatives, implementation and practice in South Africa by means of the case study of the Reeston project in the Eastern Cape. The following objectives are set for the study: To analyse the policy and institutional framework guiding the establishment of state-assisted human settlement projects in the country. To analyse the level of execution in the selected human settlement projects in the Buffalo City Metropolitan area reflected the policy and institutional framework for the establishment of state-assisted human settlements. v To ascertain the beneficiaries’ narratives about the projects (and the overarching policy/institutional framework), and what socio-cultural and/or economic factors, if any, mediate those narratives. To detail the socio-economic conditions and livelihood strategies of Reeston Human settlements residents. The study took the combined method of research, being the qualitative and quantitative research method. The choice of a research approach is guided among others by three main aspects: the research problem, the researcher’s experience and the audience at whom the research is directed. A mixed approach method has been employed for this study, because as several authors confirm, this is how to get the best out of both the qualitative and quantitative approaches. The evaluation took the analysis of the Duncan Village, looking at the transition from the informal settlements to the Reeston Housing development in the Eastern Cape Province. Respondents were visited in their places of comfort where they were able to express themselves so that the researcher can be able to retrieve more information in this regard. The findings of the research revealed the level of satisfaction, dwelling attributes, neighborhood issues, environmental issues for consideration in the housing development as a form of dwelling. The study contributes significantly to the body of knowledge as it provides solution to the provision of housing development in South Africa, especially the Duncan Village as a prime site for development for Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. The study presents a new model for developing houses in the informal settlements without relocating the beneficiaries from their area of comfort. A sustainable housing development to the need of the people will be the one that is re4sponsive to the findings of this study, these are: satisfaction with the government services rendered in the area, the surroundings in the dwellings and most importantly the environmental consideration