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Informal settlement upgrading, assets and poverty alleviation: Evidence from longitudinal research in South Africa

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  • Lochner Marais
  • John Ntema
  • Jan Cloete
  • Molefi Lenka

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between housing as an asset and the accumulation of other assets. Using data from a longitudinal research project stretching over nearly 25 years, we have found that besides actual income, there have also been improvements in self-perceived wealth ranking, asset holding, housing size, infrastructure access and human capital. Not all households have however benefited or been found to be better off. We have found that those households who had settled in Freedom Square after 1994 were indeed better off than the earlier settlers. Asset building is a slow process, one driven by stability (accessing urban land and secure tenure), finding an address, accessing education and finding work or remaining employed (though not necessarily in this particular sequence). Contrary to what the Department of Human Settlements suggests, we have found little evidence that informal settlement dwellers build assets by means of the secondary housing market.

Suggested Citation

  • Lochner Marais & John Ntema & Jan Cloete & Molefi Lenka, 2018. "Informal settlement upgrading, assets and poverty alleviation: Evidence from longitudinal research in South Africa," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(1), pages 105-125, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:deveza:v:35:y:2018:i:1:p:105-125
    DOI: 10.1080/0376835X.2017.1362331
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    Cited by:

    1. Eugene Ejike Ezebilo & Patrice Savadogo, 2021. "Preferences for Infrastructure and Determinants of Decision to Live in a Makeshift House in Informal Settlements," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-27, November.

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