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Events

Household Access to Basic Infrastructural Services in South Africa: Implications for Local Government

28 March 2011
12:15 - 13:30

Date :

28 March 2011

Time :

12:15 – 13:30

Presenter :

Dr Catherine Ndinda, Population Health, Health Systems and Innovation

 

“The right to housing is not merely having a roof over one’s head; rather it requires an accessible habitable space that fulfils the basic needs of humans to personal space, security, adequate lighting and ventilation, safe infrastructure, protection from weather and adequate location with regard to work and basic facilities all at reasonable cost”.

 

Housing is more than having a roof over one’s head; it includes the services that support and make dwellings habitable. The provision of subsidised housing is considered a basic human right. The South African the housing policy is emphatic that adequate housing includes access to basic infrastructural services such as water, sanitation and electricity.  Improving access to basic infrastructural services such as water and sanitation contributes to the achievement of adequate housing as envisaged in the post-apartheid housing policy.

 

This paper using SASAS data examines household access to basic infrastructural services (water and sanitation) in the period 2005-2009. The findings point to differential access to basic services in terms of province, and race. The paper argues that the levels of satisfaction are a useful indicator of the areas where government at all levels needs to bolster efforts in service delivery. While noting the discrepancies between the provision of housing and basic infrastructural services, the paper advocates the sharing of service delivery best practices and expertise across provinces in order to accelerate the attainment of the vision of adequate housing in South Africa.

 

The presentation from the seminar is now available for downlaod 

 

The audio presentation from the seminar is now available for download

 

To reserve a seat kindly RSVP by 25 March 2011

 

Venues

Cape Town: HSRC, 12th Floor, Plein Park Building (Opposite Revenue Office), Plein Street , Cape Town. Contact Vuyokazi Ngxubaza, Tel (021) 4668004, Fax (021) 461 0299, or VNgxubaza@hsrc.ac.za, Cell: +27 (0) 82 050 8453, or Ms Tanyia Fraser, E-mail:  tfraser@hsrc.ac.za

Durban: First floor HSRC board room, 750 FRANCOIS ROAD, Ntuthuko Junction, PODS 5 and 6, Cato Manor, Contact Ridhwaan Khan, Tel +27 (0) 31 242 5400, E-mail:  RKhan@hsrc.ac.za

Pretoria: HSRC Video Conference, 1st floor HSRC Library Human Sciences Research Council, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria. Arlene Grossberg, E-mail acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za, Baby Twala, Tel +27 (0) 12 302 2368, E-mail: Btwala@hsrc.ac.za