Evaluating the Ownership Spirit Displayed by the Golf Course Reconstruction and Development (RDP) Housing Programme Beneficiaries with Evidence Emanating from the 2011-2013 Research Case Study

Abstract

KEYWORDS Housing Malpractices. Sanitary and Hygiene Condition. Dependence Syndrome. Quality of Houses ABSTRACT This study sought to evaluate the spirit of the Reconstruction and Development (RDP) housing programme ownership by the dwellers with a case study of Golf Course RDP houses, Eastern Cape Province. The study adopted mixed methods of both qualitative and quantitative approaches to collect data; with the qualitative approach assuming a dominant approach while the quantitative approach was less dominant. The quantit ative approach took the form of a mini survey while the qualitative approach took the form of a case study. The findings from this study revealed increasingly lowered ownership spirit through: some beneficiaries selling or renting the RDP houses; some abandoning them giving thieves an opportunity to vandalize them; while some beneficiaries were not occupying the houses at all as they had other alternative shelter; and lack of sanitary and hygiene environment with lack of clean water being acute; and the beneficiaries not showing interest to improve them. However, close to half of the beneficiaries showed a significant appreciation of the houses and had some sizeable ownership spirit. The researchers recommended that: the current RDP housing programme be re-organized afresh towards ensuring that the RDP houses have access to safe and clean water and sanitary and social amenities are availed: an investigation be carried out on the status of the occupants in those RDP houses whether they are beneficiaries or not. These measures can go a long way in ensuring that the spirit of the RDP housing dwellers is stirred towards owning the programme.