Barriers to informal settlements upgrading in the Gauteng province of South Africa

Informal settlements are homes to millions of people in and around the world, particularly in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to assess the problems and challenges facing the upgrading of informal settlements and also to investigate the potential remedies for these challenges, with the aim of reducing or formalizing these settlements in the Gauteng Province, as it has become a reality of the present day. The data used in this study was derived from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data in this paper was collected through the use of a 50 structure structured questionnaire to officials of the Department of Human Settlement in the Gauteng province. From the 50 questionnaire sent out, 33 were received representing a 66% overall respond rate. The Data received from the questionnaires was analysed using descriptive statistics procedures. The secondary data used in this study was obtained through a comprehensive review of related literature. Findings from the study revealed that there are a number of problems and challenges facing the upgrading of informal settlements in the Gauteng Province. Paramount amongst these are: funding constraints, limited capacity and human resource constraints, scarcity of well located developable land and slow decision making as a result of bureaucratic influence. Further findings revealed that adequate planning procedures, faster and more streamlined development planning approvals, and the strengthening of inter-departmental Relations are effective ways to remedy the challenges and problems facing the upgrading of informal settlements. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on the subject of the problems and challenges facing informal settlement upgrading in Gauteng, South Africa