Mike Greeff, Chief Executive of Greeff Properties, has drawn attention to an alarming report, now being regularly aired as an audiovisual presentation by Gerry Adlard of the African Centre for Cities which is associated with the University of Cape Town…

The report indicates that South Africa is sitting on a time bomb as a result of our inability to face up to serious problems that, month-by-month, are becoming more apparent in our informal settlements: two-thirds of Cape Town’s residents are now officially classified as poor and a staggering 40 percent are living in inadequate housing. Discontent here, the report indicates, could well erupt into violence if better delivery and remedial action do not become more evident.

Setting the scene for his lecture, Adlard said that worldwide 32 percent (1.06-billion) of the total population of this planet (6.6-billion) now live in slums or informal settlements.

In sub-Saharan Africa 265-million (35 percent) of the total population of 747-million are now officially classified as urban dwellers and of these 187-million (72 percent — double the standard world average) live in slums or informal settlements. Forecasts indicate that by 2030 the world’s urban population will have grown to 650-million (i.e. 2.5 times its 2000 level).

Runaway urbanization

In South Africa this urbanization process is taking place at a faster rate than almost anywhere else, with 56 percent of our 50-million people living in towns and cities. This urban population is growing a rate of three percent per annum (with the growth in the small towns being even faster).

Cape Town itself now has a population of close on four-million (i.e. almost 1-million households). According to Professor Simon Bekker of Stellenbosch University, this figure is growing annually by some 50 000 people (i.e. ± 16 000 households) as a result in-migration (the move to the cities) and by 11 000 people per annum as a result of natural population increase.

Furthermore, the terrible truth is that 77 percent of people in Cape Town’s informal settlements live below the official poverty line which the Census authorities in 2001 set at a monthly income of R1600 — what it is now is anyone’s guess.

The unemployed are 'under skilled'

"In the circumstances," said Greeff, "job creation clearly must increase, and this can only come about once South Africa emerges from its recession. Here too, however, there are difficulties because the majority of Cape Town’s unemployed are, the report shows, 'under skilled' for the vacancies that are becoming available but 'over skilled' for basic manual jobs.

"As a result employers in many sectors are short of workers with appropriate skills and therefore invest in more sophisticated plants or in foreign labour to meet their needs."

The report also shows, said Greeff, that any idea that Cape Town’s rapidly increasing urban population will eventually be housed in decent subsidised homes is now unrealistic — no matter how much goodwill and additional funds are allocated in this direction.

This article continues on page two, offering some novel yet realistic suggestions...

How to get a home loan Some tips from home loan experts ooba on getting a mortgage application approved...

How to evict a tenant The procedure for cancelling a lease and evicting a non-paying or otherwise recalcitrant tenant...

Green Point rocks! The new Cape Town stadium has caused property values in the area to rise by 20 percent...