Explore publications.

This article systematically reviews literature on the challenges affecting the delivery of low-income housing in Cape Town, South Africa. A systematic method, informed by PRISMA, was employed to identify, evaluate, and select relevant scholarly works, official documents, policy papers, and governmental publications. The identified sources were subjected to a thematic analysis with the objective to pinpoint recurrent issues that impact the provision of low-income housing. The review found that low-income housing delivery in Cape Town is affected by interconnected challenges, including land availability, spatial inequality, funding constraints, infrastructure limitations, administrative delays, weak institutional coordination, limited stakeholder participation and transparency concerns. The results demonstrate that low-income housing delivery should be viewed as a major governance, planning, and service-delivery issue in addition to the building of housing units. This paper suggests that integrated human settlements, better financial planning, more transparent approval processes, more intergovernmental cooperation, significant stakeholder participation, and open communication should be given top priority when it comes to Cape Town's low-income housing delivery. Through summarizing previous research and emphasizing the necessity of an integrated strategy to address Cape Town's low-income housing issues, the article adds to the conversation regarding housing delivery.

Rapid urbanisation in South Africa is reshaping the country’s spatial geography, largely driven by internal migration from rural areas and financially disadvantaged towns to urban centres. Key destinations, such as Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Cape Town, attract migrants seeking work, education, and better lifestyles. However, this movement places greater strain on urban systems by increasing demand for housing, water, energy, sanitation, transportation, and other basic public amenities. It also adds to urbanisation, overpopulation, the spread of informal settlements, land-use disputes, and governance issues. These shifts underscore the urgency for municipalities to shift away from planning models built on stable demographics and toward governance systems that respond to migration and demographic shifts. This research explores the connection between internal migration and local governance in South Africa, with an emphasis on the effects for inclusive service provision and urban sustainability. A qualitative study technique was adopted, including a conceptual document review of academic, policy, and institutional materials. The research reviewed data on migration patterns, governance capacity, participatory mechanisms, and planning solutions in the context of local government. Results showed that several municipalities have not adequately embraced migration dynamics in their urban planning practices. Existing participation methods generally exclude migrants and other transitory communities, leading to underrepresentation and choices that fail to capture changing urban demands. Delayed planning decisions increase infrastructure pressure, service provision backlogs, informal areas, and spatial inequalities. The study suggests that internal migration needs to be central to urban planning and accountability. It advocates for migration-informed spatial decision-making, increased engagement of mobile residents in Integrated Development Plan (IDP) operations, and unified governance revisions to promote inclusive and urban sustainability.

Developing economies prominently highlight urbanisation and internal migration as key aspects of economic development and growth; hence, labour reallocation, structural change, and management are essential for sustainable development. Moreover, an imbalance between urbanisation and internal migration frequently results in labour market distortion and underdevelopment in rural regions. Nonetheless, an unresolved discourse persists regarding the correlation between internal migration, urbanisation, and economic growth within academic circles. It is imperative for this debate to reach a conclusion, thereby enabling academia to guide governmental recognition of the significant impact that internal migration and urbanisation exert on economic growth and development in Africa. Moreover, foreign immigration has continued to be less regulated in African nations, despite the significance of urban expansion and rural development. This study analyses the evolution and economic requirements of internal migration and urbanisation in developing economies, particularly within the African setting, referencing foundational South African studies. The research employs a conceptual framework grounded in the theoretical principles of internal migration and urbanisation in developing economies. The research indicates that effective urbanisation and the management of internal migration can sustain labour markets. If increasing internal migration and urbanisation are not well handled alongside industrial expansion, they would likely result in informal employment and heightened demand for services, adversely impacting growth. Urban employment prospects and income disparities typically serve as internal migratory pull forces, necessitating state-led urbanisation and the enhancement of governance capacity. Investment in infrastructure, innovative urban planning, and legislative reforms can effectively leverage the dynamics of internal migration and urbanisation. There is an urgent necessity for equitable and sustainable economic development that incorporates a responsive migration framework and people mobility. This work enhances the existing knowledge base by synthesising previous research on internal migration and urbanisation, while examining unrestrained population movements.

This study aimed to explore the effects of uninhabitable off-campus residences on students’ health at the University of Venda. A qualitative approach was used for an in-depth subject approach. The phenomenological research design was used to understand the meanings of human experience regarding the research problem. Non-probability sampling methods and convenience sampling techniques were used to solicit participants. One-to-one semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Thematic analysis was then used to analyse the data. The study discovered that some students who live in off-campus accommodation are subjected to unhealthy conditions, unsafe environments, and non-study conducive surroundings. The findings also revealed that these students end up being affected by both physical and mental illness. The unpleasant conditions in these facilities are perpetuated by the landlords’ ignorance and unwillingness to invest. Recommended means to deal with the uninhabitable residences include sufficient investment and regular monitoring of the facilities by the facilities’ owners, as well as ensuring cooperation between students, their representatives, and the landlords. Lastly, there is a need to orchestrate policy and interventions to ensure continuous consideration of students’ health, safety, and comfort of off-campus residing students.