The Challenges in the Provision of Low-cost Housing in the Duduza Community of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality

This study examines issues in the provision of low-cost housing in South Africa, using the Duduza community as a case study. The RDP was launched in 1994 to address historical inequalities caused by apartheid by providing affordable housing to disadvantaged groups. The right to access adequate housing in South Africa is enshrined in Section 26 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, which mandates the state to take reasonable measures to achieve this. Municipalities are also obligated to ensure sustainable service provision under section 152. This study adopted a qualitative research methodology. The semi-structured interview guides were conducted with RDP beneficiaries, non-beneficiaries, the ward committee member, the councillor and the government official. The study used a purposive sampling technique to identify the participants. The primary data collection process was followed using semi-structured interviews, and in the secondary data collection, the existing literature was reviewed. The data was analysed using a thematic content analysis approach. The results of this study show that there are governance issues in low-cost housing provision in the Duduza community, including challenges with resource allocation and institutional capacity, such as skilled staff, fraud, and community participation. Moreover, the study revealed that the quality of the houses is poor, caused by corrupt practices from private service providers, and unfair allocation persists. The Department of Human Settlements and Municipalities should enforce stricter oversight of contractors and building standards to ensure houses are built using SABS-approved materials and meet safety and durability standards. Independent inspectors should monitor compliance throughout the construction process. A zero-tolerance policy on corruption should be enforced, with criminal prosecution for corrupt activities.