WHAT IS THE TOWNSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN SOUTH AFRICA?

The township development process in South Africa is closely linked to the country’s apartheid past. During apartheid, black South Africans were forcibly removed from urban areas and relocated to designated areas on the outskirts of cities and towns. These townships lacked basic services such as water, sanitation, and electricity.

In the post-apartheid era, the government has undertaken various initiatives to address the legacy of apartheid and improve the lives of people living in townships. These initiatives include the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) launched in 1994, and the National Development Plan (NDP) launched in 2012.

Key Stakeholders

Government departments, local municipalities, private developers, and communities are the stakeholders involved in the process. The government departments responsible for township development include the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Policies and Regulations

The National Housing Code, the National Building Regulations, and the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) guide these policies and regulations to ensure that development is carried out in a sustainable and equitable manner. SPLUMA provides a framework for the management of land use, and municipalities develop spatial development frameworks to guide the development of different areas.