Journal of Advanced Research in Social Sciences
ISSN 2538-919X
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* Corresponding Author E-Mail Address: Vutivikay@gmail.com
© The Author(s). 2020 Open Access. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The Use of Mixed-Income Housing Development to Address Poverty
and Inequality, Based on Delphi Empirical Approach: A Case of
South Africa
George Onatu and Vutivi Kay Baloyi
*
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT
Keywords:
Access to services
Poverty
Inequality
Integration
Mixed-income housing
Since the dawn of democracy in 1994, the Republic of South Africa
(RSA) has been trying to address the aftermath and consequences of the
apartheid regime. This comprises of the socio-economic, spatial, and
political challenges that have persisted over the decades. These have had
far reaching repercussions in the society to the extent that 25 years later
after apartheid, the country finds itself with alarming rates of poverty,
social exclusion, unemployment, and inequality. Literature has revealed
that there is a direct relationship between poverty and inequality as well
as access to socio-economic services / opportunities. Poor access to
these services perpetuates exclusivity and thus inequality and
marginalisation in all form and character. The purpose of this study is to
investigate how housing developments have been used in South Africa
to address poverty and inequality. The aim is to understand how to plan
for better and more socially and economically thriving communities
through housing development, focusing specifically on aspects of
development that contributes to addressing poverty and inequality.
Using a Delphi three round method of Inquiry of 20 experts, perceptions
from a diverse panel of experts about mixed-income housing
development were uncovered. In comparison to previous housing
models, the study uncovered a significant paradigm shift in housing
development and what a housing intervention should achieve. Since
2004 after the introduction of the Breaking New Ground Policy (BNG),
the housing development approaches, and interventions have shifted
away from just providing roof over once head to providing social asset
to the poor and a whole range economic opportunities. The conclusion
is that housing development by virtue of location, diverse housing
typologies and tenure options is now part and parcel of integrated
planning and the pro poor development agenda.
1. Introduction
In the last two decades the Republic of South Africa (RSA) has been trying to address the
social, spatial, political, and economic challenges that exist as a result of Apartheid. These have
had far reaching consequences in society that 25 years after apartheid, the country finds itself
with alarming rates of poverty and inequality despite several government efforts. Poverty and
inequality have a proportional relationship to access to socio-economic services. Lack of access
to these services perpetuates exclusivity and thus inequality and poverty.
The housing issues worldwide are rooted in the definition of housing. Literature dating back to
the 1970’s highlights the significance of understanding the concept properly in order to deal
with housing challenges. In this era housing was expanded beyond what people demanded to