When the African National Congress (ANC) contested the 1994 democratic elections, one of its main slogans was ‘Housing for all’. The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), which was the election manifesto for the ANC and its alliance partners set a specific target for the provision of housing. At least a million houses were to be built in five years as part of meeting basic needs objectives contained in the RDP. Importantly there was a clear indication of the requirements to be met by houses that were to be provided. On housing standards:
‘As a minimum, all housing must provide protection from weather, a durable structure, and reasonable living space and privacy. A house must include sanitary facilities, storm-water drainage, a household energy supply (whether linked to grid electricity supply or derived from other sources, such as solar energy), and convenient access to clean water. Moreover, it must provide for secure tenure in a variety of forms. Upgrading of existing housing must be accomplished with these
minimum standards in mind.’ (ANC, 1994: 2.5.7).
This report provides a brief overview of the housing policy context and the housing situation in South Africa, based on the 2001 Census. Subsequent sections are devoted to the analysis of findings from the focus groups and the module in South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) 2005, which relate specifically to housing in South Africa.
Findings from the Indicators of Poverty and Social Exclusion Project: Housing (2006) Wiseman Magasela, Gemma Wright, Andrew Ratcliffe and Michael Noble. Department of Social Development.
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