South Africa informal settlements face housing and disaster risks

South Africa faces a significant housing challenge, with approximately two million households still living in informal settlements. While the government has built over three million subsidized homes since 1994, the pace of brick-and-mortar construction remains low, with only 23,000 RDP/BNG houses built in the 2025/26 financial year.

Experts suggest that upgrading existing informal settlements by providing serviced stands is a more cost-effective and efficient alternative to building new houses. Such upgrades could provide immediate access to clean water, safer sanitation, and improved waste removal, which are directly linked to better health outcomes and reduced mortality rates, particularly in children.

Research in KwaZulu-Natal highlights the severe disaster risks faced by these residents. In the Khan Road informal settlement, studies show that rapid urbanization and poor infrastructure leave households highly vulnerable to flooding and fire. Residents often live in high-risk areas like floodplains, where dense layouts and combustible materials exacerbate fire hazards, while poor drainage increases flood risks. These vulnerabilities are compounded by unreliable water supplies and limited access to basic services, forcing residents to rely heavily on informal community support networks for disaster response.