Revisiting the Self-Help Housing debate: Perception of Self-Help Housing by the beneficiaries of South African low-cost housing

5.2.2 Perspective for future researches

Throughout this research, it comes out that some issues raised deserve proper research. Firstly, it is established that most people interviewed with Matric as level of education ignore their right of having access to adequate housing. However, this research did not focus on people with tertiary education. So, this deserves proper research^56(*). Secondly, some residents of informal settlements interviewed have income which varies between R 1000 and R 2000. It should also be interesting to find the way how those people can initiate saving in order to improve their poor housing conditions.

Thirdly, the approach of government with regard to housing is defined in this research as paternalistic attitude which is criticized on ethical grounds. However, this attitude may in some circumstances be useful, especially for the poorest of the poor who cannot find proper solution to their housing need by themselves. Research deserves to be conducted to determine the criteria in which paternalist attitude may constitute an effective housing solution for poor households.

It is also acknowledged that there is a need to elaborate a new housing policy which will not focus on ownership option only, but which will include other options such as rental and which will not deepen segregation. Another perspective may also be taken, which does not envisage the elaboration of a new housing policy but which examines keeping the current housing policy to see how it can be fully implemented. This deserves proper research insofar as it should focus on the way the implementation of current housing policy can respond to housing need of poor people.

Finally, this research pointed out the reasons which have prevented a widespread use of SHH but did not examine if SHH can bring social inclusion and job creation in South Africa. This is to say that research is needed to determine whether or not the current political, economic and social situations of South Africa welcome the SHH process.

* ⁵⁶ Surely, they are a few number of poor households who have members with tertiary education in Tembisa. However, in other wards that I did not choose as sample, you can find some people who are still schooling in University or other tertiary education.