As households increasingly build in bricks and mortar within informal settlements, the face of these communities is changing
South Africa’s rural areas and informal settlements need the greatest protection against climate change
Can anything good come out emjondolo? Trevor Ngwane looks into how committees in informal settlements are updating the system for their survival
Climate projections show that the eThekwini metro will receive more rain by 2050 that could fall in brief periods
The eThekwini metro’s climate action plan lacks urgency and the state remains wedded to fossil fuels, mining, high-energy refining and smelting
Service delivery is about improving people’s lives, not expedient election promises
Women make up just 37% of our elected representatives, and gains in representation are slowly being eroded. This should concern us all
The municipality has accrued billions of rand in wasteful spending, and more than 6 000 putrid bucket toilets
Broken taps and toilets are the last thing shack dwellers need in the midst of a pandemic
Illegal occupations of unsuitable land coupled with heavy rains cause disruption of flood management systems
The women who run early childhood centres in informal settlements frequently go without salaries and let children attend free of charge
Gold made Johannesburg. Today, a lesser-known mineral shapes the lives of some of the city’s impoverished residents
A tech solution to fires in informal settlements comes with insurance that pays out the victims of these blazes
Studies in informal settlements show transparent communication is key to trusting the government and adhering to restrictions
In Nairobi’s slums, residents spurn Covid-19 tests, fearing both ostracisation and the financial costs of being quarantined
The South African Human Rights Commission and housing activists brought — and won — an application to halt lockdown demolitions of what the City of Cape Town said were unoccupied dwellings
It is possible to urbanise without congestion and the attendant ills through emphasis on better institutions, writes Eddie Rakabe
The auditor general’s report on local government stated that most councils did not spend their infrastructure development budgets and did not address concerns regarding financial controls
A large percentage don’t have access to adequate housing, food, clean water or sanitation, putting them and their families at a higher risk of the coronavirus
About 1 600 families in the Stjwetla shack settlement in Alexandra, Johannesburg are standing on the verge of seismic change. This is one of their stories
The political will is there, but proper implementation remains an obstacle to improving people’s lot
The Western province, which has 65% of all positive Covid-19 cases, is preparing additional health facilities for a July peak
Police violence and the murder of black people in the United States have provoked outrage and protest around the world, including on the continent. But, why is there so little outrage over police violence in African countries?
A response to the coronavirus pandemic is paving the way to ensure people get the attention they deserve and hold government to account
It is important to note that the phenomena of translocality and circular migration in Africa have often served as a strategy of resilience in tough times
With nearly 19 000 tanks needed for emergency water supply, the already broke water department is exhausting its future budget for crucial projects in areas already without water
It is difficult for residents of informal settlements to follow guidelines to prevent Covid-19 transmission, such as hand-washing, in the absence of access to water. It is governments’ responsibility to provide these basic services
Following the new UN report on climate change and agricultural land use, how will climate change affect communities in informal urban areas
Informal settlement clusters are a way to improve people’s participation in local government
South African policies need to recognise thi
Increasing housing delivery to address the demand is unlikely to be achieved any time soon given low economic growth and fiscal consolidation
Sheffield Road in Philippi has become one of the city’s best-known places to buy a shack, where builders make a living providing affordable housing.