Author: Rogier van den Brink; Dave DeGroot; Ntombini Marrengane; Stephen Berrisford; Michael Kihato; Zimkhitha Mhlanga

Publisher: The World Bank

Keywords: Municipality, Land use, Public Policy, Licenses, Municipalities, Income, Settlements, Urban areas, Spatial planning, Africa (sub-Saharan), Housing, Poverty reduction

Abstract:
This study outlines the difficulties poor communities face in accessing peri urban land in South Africa that could have implications and lessons for similar communities in other countries facing spatial segregation issues. The study focused on one community, composed largely of laid off farm workers that wanted to buy their own farm in a peri urban area west of Johannesburg. Their dream was to establish a mixed use settlement. They wanted to call the village Ethembalethu Our Hope. About 250 families started their own association and savings scheme to make their dream a reality. By 1997, they had saved enough money to make their first purchase offer.

Subjects: Public Policy