DRAFT POLICY TO INFORM
THE PROACTIVE RE-BLOCKING OF INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
Executive summary
Problem statement
The present organic form and characteristics of the majority of the 204 informal
settlements in Cape Town make it very difficult for the City to provide municipal utility
services at the prescribed national minimum standards, despite the continued good
progress the City has made in improving service delivery over the past number of
years.
High densities and the highly flammable building materials of dwellings in informal
settlements aid the rapid spread of fires significantly. At the same time it limits the
effective response of the City’s emergency services. This often results in the loss of
life, homes and possessions.
To address these very real issues, the City has drafted a policy that informs
stakeholders of the City’s plan to roll out the proactive re-blocking of informal
settlements to far greater effect and numbers. The first re-blocking exercise was
undertaken by the City in partnership with a well-known NGO and CBO in two
informal settlements. This showed that reconfiguring the present layout by grouping
structures into clusters and reorganising the ground plane in a manner that optimally
utilises space can provide immediate relief. The affected households enjoy greater
access to services and the impact of fires and floods on them is reduced.
Desired outcomes
The desired outcomes of the draft policy are the following:
1. Informal settlements that have:
a) a positive, legible urban structure that allow integration with their
surroundings
b) safer integrated public spaces
c) access and egress roads for emergency and services vehicles
d) safe and convenient paths for movement of people on foot
e) improved access to basic municipal services.
2. The successful implementation of re-blocking helps to:
a) reduce the risk of fires developing and spreading quickly over large areas
b) mitigate the negative impact of potential disasters and health hazards
c) improve the safety and security of the residents and transforms their
livelihoods.
3. Clarification of the powers, functions, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders
and partners.
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Strategic intent
The draft policy ensures strategic alignment with the following key strategies:
a) The five strategic focus areas of the City’s Integrated Development Plan
b) The National Development Plan 2030
c) OneCape2040 and the City Development Strategy
d) The City’s five-year Integrated Human Settlements Plan
Policy parameters
1. The implementation of the policy will be based on a collaborative effort between
various City departments, local communities, NGOs and CBOs.
2. Re-blocking will be undertaken in informal settlements on City-owned land and
other public-owned land where the City has been granted authority to undertake
re-blocking.
Role players and stakeholders
The following are some of the key role players identified for implementing the policy
provisions:
1. Project steering committees
2. Local communities
3. The following directorates of the City
a) Human Settlements
b) Safety and Security
c) Health
d) Utility Services
e) Economic, Environmental and Spatial Planning
f) Community Services
g) Transport, Roads and Stormwater
4. Office of the Deputy City Manager
5. Non-governmental and community-based organisations
Policy directives
The policy deals with the following directives, among others, to achieve the desired
outcomes:
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Identification of settlements for re-blocking
Partnerships with NGOs and CBOs to undertake and facilitate re-blocking
Formation of project steering committees
Enumerations and profiling of local communities
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Planning for re-blocking
Implementing the re-blocking plan
Education and awareness training
Maintenance
Tenure options
Stand sizes
Top structures
Dispute resolution
Funding
Monitoring, evaluation and review
The Human Settlements Directorate will undertake regular monitoring and evaluation
based on reports and lessons learnt.
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