No City of Cape Town plan available for backyarders living on private land

There are about 98,000 people living in backyard dwellings in Eersteriver, Cape Town according to this article. The rapid urbanisation in densely populated areas like Eersteriver has made accessing basic municipal services, such as water and electricity, a challenge for these families.The local authority plans to help backyard dwellers, but only on properties it owns. 

About eight years ago, the City started improving conditions in rented backyard dwellings on municipal-owned land. It did this by providing households with access to basic municipal services like installing taps, toilets and electricity meters. Since 2014, more than 3,000 water and sanitation points have been installed in backyard dwellings.

Many backyard residents are not registered on any of its housing needs registers and therefore do not qualify when a housing opportunity becomes available. R40-million has been allocated from the Human Settlements Directorate budget for upgrades to informal settlements and backyarder services over the next three years. Private landlords and tenants have been strongly urged by Mayoral Committee representatives to insist on getting written contracts stipulating their roles, responsibilities, rights and requirements.

Abstract based on source.