Asivikelane #15 results show that upgrading projects are failing to deliver. Half of residents have been promised, but failed to receive, access to services.
Asivikelane has observed the following in various Metros across the country:
- Most metro budgets for informal settlements are allocated to large long-term upgrading projects rather than to responsive provision of taps and toilets.
- But these projects are failing to deliver. Almost half of residents have been promised upgrades. A quarter were told this more than 5 years ago. But Asivikelane’s traffic lights show that these projects have still not improved services.
- For example, in Ekurhuleni, half of residents were told over 5 years ago that their settlements would be upgraded. But the metro still does not score a single green light for informal settlement services.
- In Tshwane, almost three-quarters of residents were told more than 5 years ago that their settlements would be upgraded. But the metro still scores red lights for sanitation and refuse removal and an orange light for access to water.
- Contrary to popular belief, most of these informal settlements are not new. Except for residents from Mangaung and Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB), 60% or more have lived in their areas for 6 years or longer. This means that most have been receiving inadequate services for more than half a decade now.