Performance monitoring and evaluation for sustainable low-cost housing delivery: the case of Lukhanji and Malahleni local Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province South Africa

摘要

One of the serious problems facing South Africa is that of the provision of adequate low-cost housing for the poorest of poor. Only about 56% lived in fully-owned formal dwellings in 2009. (Stats SA: 2009). The problem is not only about the inability of the government to decrease backlogs in the provision of adequate low-cost houses. These contributory factors include the standard of construction, land as well as continuous urbanisation. International commitments such as the UN’s Millennium Goals put further pressure on government to permanently resolve the issue. Adequate housing is recognised globally as a basic human right. This includes access to running water and sanitation and electricity. The aim of the study is not to investigate construction techniques or methods, specific choices of location or any other planning-related issues, but to find an approach that is more appealing to the challenge of the provision of housing as per the afore-mentioned challenges combined with, amongst others, the provision of the necessary resources and relevant political processes as well as monitoring and evaluation. The provision of low-cost housing is unique in nature as it can never be fully resolved. To assist the process because of its nature, future studies suggest systems theory as a best recognised and more successful way to address wicked problems. By investigating low-cost housing programmes in Chile and Australia, identifying the elements of systems theory used, it was possible to find pointers to help formulate a set of steps (or actions) to use to address South Africa’s low-cost housing challenge. This research report proposes that, while the challenge of housing provision in a country like South Africa will most probably always be present, it can be alleviated by applying systems thinking to the problem. The study therefore puts forth Participatory Housing Delivery Monitoring Model (PHDMM). The model will assist in providing the beneficiaries of low-cost houses space to participate in the housing process and projects. It will also necessitate accountability by various participants in housing development. Capacity building will also be part of the package.