Towards an understanding the outcomes of housing privatisation in South Africa

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Periodical article

Title:	Towards an understanding the outcomes of housing privatisation in South Africa
Editor:	Marais, Lochner
Year:	2014
Periodical:	Urban Forum (ISSN 1874-6330)
Volume:	25
Issue:	1
Pages:	57-68
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	urban housing property privatization Black people
Abstract:	Housing privatisation is commonly understood in political economic terms. The proponents of privatisation argue that the provision of ownership enables households to have security of tenure, which in turn leads to increased housing investment, the development of a secondary housing market and a source of income for the local authority by means of land tax. On the other hand, critics of housing privatisation suggest that such processes lead to landlordism and an increased dependence on mortgage finance. This paper uses historical methodology to trace the historical lack of secure tenure for urban black South Africans. The data consists of 395 structured questionnaires conducted in the case study area of Mangaung, the former black township of Bloemfontein. The results suggest that housing privatisation processes in South Africa cannot be viewed only through a political economic lens. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]