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South Africa elections: Has the ANC built enough homes? | |
(about 8 hours later) | |
When the ANC came to power in South Africa, in 1994, the country faced a stark housing crisis. | When the ANC came to power in South Africa, in 1994, the country faced a stark housing crisis. |
Large parts of the black population lived in inadequate, overcrowded and informal settlements. | Large parts of the black population lived in inadequate, overcrowded and informal settlements. |
An ambitious house-building programme has been central to ANC policy since then. | An ambitious house-building programme has been central to ANC policy since then. |
During the election campaign in 2014, the ANC promised to deliver one million homes in the next five years. | During the election campaign in 2014, the ANC promised to deliver one million homes in the next five years. |
So what happened and how good is its record? | So what happened and how good is its record? |
How many houses has the ANC built? | How many houses has the ANC built? |
The South African government says 3.2 million homes were built from 1994 to 2018. | The South African government says 3.2 million homes were built from 1994 to 2018. |
There was a dramatic growth in construction in the early years of ANC rule (1994-1999). | There was a dramatic growth in construction in the early years of ANC rule (1994-1999). |
But after reaching a peak in 1999, the rate of house-building has slowed, particularly over the past few years. | But after reaching a peak in 1999, the rate of house-building has slowed, particularly over the past few years. |
Just under 580,000 homes were delivered during the first four years of the ANC's current term, 2015-18. | Just under 580,000 homes were delivered during the first four years of the ANC's current term, 2015-18. |
And although data for the fifth year is not yet available, this rate of delivery falls considerably short of the promise made by the ANC at the last election. | And although data for the fifth year is not yet available, this rate of delivery falls considerably short of the promise made by the ANC at the last election. |
Urgent need | Urgent need |
The South African government estimates a current national shortfall of 2.1 million homes - for about 12.5 million people. | The South African government estimates a current national shortfall of 2.1 million homes - for about 12.5 million people. |
And it has set a target of 2030 to fill that gap. | And it has set a target of 2030 to fill that gap. |
But independent think-tank the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa (CAHF) says the backlog is massive "and annual delivery by government is clearly insufficient to meet demand". | But independent think-tank the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa (CAHF) says the backlog is massive "and annual delivery by government is clearly insufficient to meet demand". |
And at the current delivery rate - 136,000 homes per year - only 1.5 million of the 2.1 million currently needed would be available by 2030. | And at the current delivery rate - 136,000 homes per year - only 1.5 million of the 2.1 million currently needed would be available by 2030. |
In the meantime, the population is growing. | In the meantime, the population is growing. |
How do South Africans live? | How do South Africans live? |
Most South Africans live in formal dwellings - 80%, according to the latest statistics, in 2017. | Most South Africans live in formal dwellings - 80%, according to the latest statistics, in 2017. |
A further 14% live in informal housing, which are mostly squatter settlements on the periphery of cities and towns and in the gardens of formal houses. | A further 14% live in informal housing, which are mostly squatter settlements on the periphery of cities and towns and in the gardens of formal houses. |
The remaining 6% live in traditional homes in rural villages. | The remaining 6% live in traditional homes in rural villages. |
More about the South African elections: | More about the South African elections: |
Analysts and government ministers say that development has failed to address the long-term effect of segregation, with a development focus on cities and not on the outskirts. | Analysts and government ministers say that development has failed to address the long-term effect of segregation, with a development focus on cities and not on the outskirts. |
"South Africa's cities still reflect the legacy of apartheid spatial planning, with a geography that casts the poorest communities to the periphery far from services and employment," Nomaindiya Mfeketho, Minister of Human Settlements, said in March. | "South Africa's cities still reflect the legacy of apartheid spatial planning, with a geography that casts the poorest communities to the periphery far from services and employment," Nomaindiya Mfeketho, Minister of Human Settlements, said in March. |
What's the picture regionally? | What's the picture regionally? |
The North West, followed by Gauteng province - which includes the country's largest city, Johannesburg, and the capital, Pretoria - and the Western Cape, have the highest number of informal dwellings, approximately one-fifth. | The North West, followed by Gauteng province - which includes the country's largest city, Johannesburg, and the capital, Pretoria - and the Western Cape, have the highest number of informal dwellings, approximately one-fifth. |
The northernmost province, Limpopo, has the highest proportion of formal housing, at just over 90%. | The northernmost province, Limpopo, has the highest proportion of formal housing, at just over 90%. |
Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal had the highest rates of house-building, according to the latest official figures, but they are also the most populous regions. | Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal had the highest rates of house-building, according to the latest official figures, but they are also the most populous regions. |
Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |
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