Social inequality in living conditions, health, and quality of life in South Africa: development policy challenges and prospects

Abstract

Urban housing and living condiiions are important indicators and goals of development. They also directly affect productivity. life chances, health status and quality of life. Inadequate urban housing as a social problem, is characterized by homelessness. insecure tenure, poor quality construction, crowding, and inadequate infrastructure involving water supply, and poor sanitation. This research focuses on sociodemographic characteristics (household size, headship type, age of head, and race) and socioeconomic factors (education, employment, occupation, household income and expenditure patterns) that facilitate or hinder the attainment of better housing and living conditions in urban South Africa. The source of data is the 1993 nationwide survey involving interviews with 4,447 urban households. It is hypothesized that household level sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics shape housing and living conditions within a context of instimtional discrimination and segregation. Race, class and gender differences in housing and living conditions are documented. The findings indicate that poor housing and living conditions reflect differences in urban households' sociodemographic characteristics and socioeconomic resources. Households having better housing and living conditions are those that are small in size, include fewer dependent members, are jointly headed. White, are headed by a person with a high level of education and regular employment, have member(s) who are employed in skilled or semiskilled occupations. 44 have income from both earned and unearned income sources, and have the highest expenditure level per capita. The study concludes by discussing policy implications with reference to the postapartheid government s most important policies and programs.