Western Cape Human Settlements Committed To Supporting Informal Settlements

The Western Cape Department of Human Settlements’ Informal Settlement Support Programme (ISSP) is fully committed to assisting informal settlements across the province, so that the living conditions of residents in these areas can improve drastically.

The ISSP prioritises health, safety and dignity.

This programme, which was launched in 2017, is a people-centred and partnership-based approach to support informal settlement residents across the Western Cape. The first cycle of projects aims to accelerate basic services to informal settlements and improve fire safety, while over time, assist residents to have access to public infrastructure, finance, land, tenure, economic opportunities and incremental housing opportunities.

Forty-nine projects, amounting to R 284 million are funded in the current financial year, with 7 of the projects in the implementation phase, 4 having been activated to receive interim basic services, and the balance being finalised.

Crucial to the ISSP, are the various stakeholders which we are collaborating with. This includes working with NGO’s to assist with enumerations, social facilitation, leadership training, public participation and community-based planning.

Eight NGO’s are currently assisting in ten prioritised municipalities. They are CORC in the Swartland Municipality; DAG in the Witzenberg, Knysna, and Mossel Bay Municipalities; ESST in Saldanha Bay Municipality; Habitat-SA in Langeberg Municipality; PEP in the Cape Agulhas and Bitou Municipalities; SAWIC in George Municipality; VPUU in Theewaterskloof, Swellendam and Overstrand Municipalities; and Isandla Institute for developing ISSP Visual Communication Material for use by all stakeholders.

A recent collaboration with the University of Stellenbosch’s Fire Engineering Research Unit (FireSUN), also saw the development of guidelines to improve fire safety in informal settlements. These will be adapted into accessible and simplified guidelines and manuals for end-users and intermediaries, identifying the different roles and responsibilities required in developing fire response plans.

In phase two of the plan which will follow in due course, the document will be used to produce pictoral, visual and graphic illustrations. This will communicate simplified messages in a visual way illustrating various safety interventions and options available that could save lives and property, while also helping to further strengthen fire safety in informal settlements.

We will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders, which includes all sister departments, the private sector, communities as well as academia to improve the quality of life in informal settlements.