Informal Settlement Upgrading Plans — Mopani & Vhembe District Municipalities
Evidence-based upgrading plans for informal settlements across three Limpopo municipalities, each assessed against five categories to determine the right upgrading path.
2020 · Housing Development Agency (HDA) · Human settlements
Key contributors: Dylan La Loux
The Housing Development Agency appointed Cadre to assess informal settlements in Collins Chabane, Greater Letaba and Ba-Phalaborwa municipalities in Limpopo, with the assessments informing the appropriate type of upgrading for each settlement.
Each settlement was evaluated across five primary categories: alignment with the strategic planning framework (SDF, IDP and housing sector plans, and budget availability); geographic suitability and threat factors through GIS assessment; sustainable livelihood capital (human, social, natural, physical and financial); planning status, including engineering studies and existing services; and integrated infrastructure, covering bulk infrastructure and proximity to education and healthcare.
The five settlements assessed — three in Collins Chabane, one each in Greater Letaba and Ba-Phalaborwa — were categorised into clear upgrading recommendations: full upgrade, interim basic services, emergency basic services, relocation, or combinations, each supported by high-level phased incremental upgrading costings.
Key figures: 5 settlements assessed | 5 assessment categories | 3 municipalities