IOL: 'Four million still living in shacks'
More than four million South Africans, or 11 percent of the population, are still living in shacks.According to a 2006 TNS Research Surveys study, conducted on behalf of the FinMark Trust, 4,3-million people still live in shacks. Of this number, most informal dwellers are black and have about one breadwinner per household.The survey was conducted among 3 894 South Africans, aged 16 years and older.The findings were then weighed against the Statistics SA 2001 population census to draw a final result."Although most South African residents live in formal brick structures, a significant number, 4,3-million, still live in shacks, either in urban areas or squatter camps," said the survey. "Also, the most impoverished of our population have the greatest number of people per household, supported by the smallest income. Many households also operate without fairly basic appliances."
In Cape Town alone there are more than half a million people living in 240 informal settlements, according to media reports.The study also found that 75 percent of people lived in flats or brick houses, including structures such as RDP houses.Meanwhile, one percent lived in hostels and a further one percent were backyard dwellers.It also found that, while 86 percent of homes had access to electricity, this figure "was not matched by other basic services". Just more than half the homes in the country had flush toilets, and just more than one quarter had hot running water.Ninety-one percent of interviewees had never had a home loan, six percent were paying off a bond and three percent said they had once had a bond. Fifty-nine percent of adults interviewed had no concept of home loans.
This is what moladi strives to change - get South Africa (Pty) Ltd. working!