Modelling the Neighbourhood Wellbeing of Townships in South Africa

The journal article focuses on understanding and improving the quality of life in townships in South Africa. These townships are often underdeveloped urban neighbourhoods located on the outskirts of cities, where residents face numerous challenges and a poor quality of life. The study aims to address the lack of empirical research on the wellbeing of township inhabitants by exploring the relationships between various factors, including:

• Household Socioeconomic Characteristics: Examining how the economic status and other demographic factors of households impact wellbeing.
• Housing and Neighbourhood Conditions: Investigating the quality and adequacy of housing and the availability of infrastructure and services in the neighbourhoods.
• Individual and Community Wellbeing: Assessing the overall wellbeing of individuals and the community as a whole.

To achieve this, the researchers developed a neighbourhood wellbeing framework and tested their hypotheses through interviews with 389 households from the three largest townships in South Africa. The findings highlight significant challenges related to housing quality and infrastructure, showing how these issues negatively affect both individual and community wellbeing. The conclusion emphasises the importance of the neighbourhood wellbeing framework as an interdisciplinary tool that can help improve the quality of life for residents in urban neighbourhoods. By addressing the identified challenges, this framework has the potential to inform policies and interventions aimed at enhancing the living conditions in townships and similar urban areas.

Abstract based directly on original source.