Voices of South Africa’s Informal Settlement Residents during the COVID-19 Crisis
Week of November 18, 2020
- Metros: As 2020 comes to a close, our latest release focused on what municapilities and the Asivikelane campaign should do in 2021. Download the PDF.
- Non-Metros: Some municipalities have responded, but access to water and sanitation remains limited. Download the PDF.
- Download the data for metros and non-metros.
Week of October 29, 2020
- Metros: While national government reduced conditional grants to some metros, they all benefited from the R11 billion increase in equitable share funding in the national adjustments budget approved in August. Consequently, we see an overall increase in spending, but not for informal settlement services. The result is that services to informal settlements are slowing down or, in some cases, even declining. Download the PDF.
- Non-Metros: Some improvements have been noted in Witzenberg, but not much has changed in the non-metro municipalities. Access to all three services remains a challenge in many municipalities, with access to water and sanitation particularly concerning. Download the PDF.
- Download the data for metros and non-metros.
Week of September 23, 2020
- Metros: Up to 45% of informal settlement residents contracted the coronavirus in the first wave. The sharp increase in the number of red traffic lights in Asivikelane 11 makes us worry that the second wave of infections will start and spread in informal settlements. Download the PDF.
- Non-Metros: The situation in non-metro municipalities remains stable with reasonable access to water, but with a few persistent crisis points in toilet cleaning and refuse removal. After the situation was initially dire, Witzenberg has provided consistent water and refuse removal. Download the PDF.
- Download the data for metros and non-metros.
Week of August 26, 2020
Metros: Asivikelane has reported many persistent service delivery problems in informal settlements – some of which have yet not been addressed. Additionally, informal settlement residents are even more dependent on government services than before with more than 40% of households losing income due to COVID-19. Download the PDF.
- Non-Metros: Msunduzi and Emalahleni have improved their water access significantly, while other municipalities have maintained their green lights. However, in many municipalities refuse removal and toilet cleaning remain at crisis levels. Download the PDF.
- Download the data for metros and non-metros.