THE NEEDS OF A SQUATTER SETTLEMENT IN KWAZULU-

NATAL

BY

ACQUINATTE SIBONGILE NGOBESE

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

' for the degree of

MASTER OF ARTS

in
SOCIAL SCIENCE (COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT)

in the
Faculty of Arts

at the
Rand Afrikaans University

SUPERVISOR : DR. E. OLIPHANT

NOVEMBER 1998
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to record sincere thanks to the following people without whose help this study could
not have been possible.

• My supervisor, Dr Emmarentia Oliphant, for her interest, help, suggestions and

constructive criticism during the entire duration of this study. I am forever grateful
to her for instilling in me the love of research.

The respondents who participated in this study, the Community of Embelebeleni

squatter settlement, the Social Work agencies around Durban and Community
workers.

Miss Fikisiwe Madlopa of the Social Work department (University of Durban

Westville) for her support throughout.

My friend Gugu Nyowose for her encouragement.

My Mother, Elizabeth Ngobese who instilled in me the value of education and

always supported, and believe in me.

Last but not least God Almighty, whose guidance and strength have kept me going
during the hardest moments of this study.

To all squatter communities of KwaZulu-Natal.

ii
 SUMMARY

Squatter settlements have mushroomed all over South Africa. The Government no longer
can turn the blind eye on this phenomenon. There is an urgent need to develop policy to
deal with this matter and also to intervene in a manner that is not only going to control the
problem but also bring satisfaction to all the parties involved.

This study was undertaken to, investigate the needs of communities in squatter settlements.
This study was based on literature and research from South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal.
The respondents of the study were people who are involved with settlements, Community
leaders, Social workers and Community Workers.

Qualitative design of exploratory nature was conducted. Thirteen people participated in

focus groups. Three focus group interviews were conducted. The sample was
representative of the population under study. One limitation was that some interviews were
conducted in Zulu and later translated into English, which might have resulted in a loss of
meaning in some instances since there are some Zulu words that do not exist in English.

The results showed that most of the needs of squatter settlements are basic. Valuable
results emerged as how those needs can be met, to the satisfaction of the communities.

Conclusions and recommendations for further research were discussed according to results
from the study.

iii
 OPSOMMING

Plakkersdorpe het oral in Suid-Afrika soos paddastoele opgeskiet. Die regering kan nie
langer onverskillig teenoor hierdie verskynsel staan nie. Daar is 'n dringende behoefte om
n' beleid te ontwikkel om aan hierdie saak aandag te gee en ook in te gryp op n' wyse wat
nie net die probleem gaan beheer nie, maar ook teveredenheid vir alle betrokke partye gaan
verseker.

Die studie is onderneem om die behoeftes van gemeenskappe in plakkersdorpe te

ondersoek. Hierdie studie is gebaseer op literatuur en navorsing in Suid-Afrika en
KwaZulu Natal. Die respondente is persone wat betrokke is in hierdie nedersettings,
naamlik, gemeenskapsleiers, maatskaplike werkers en gemeenskapswerkers.

Kwalitatiewe ontwerp van 'n eksploratiewe aard is onderneem. Dertien mense het aan
hierdie fokusgroep deelgeneem. Drie fokusgroep onderhoude is gevoer. Die proefpersone
was verteenwoordig van die populasie wat ondersoek was. Een beperking was dat
sommige onderhoude in Zulu gevoer is en later in Engels vertaal is, wat moontlik tot
gevolg gehad het dat daar 'n verlies aan betekenis in sommige gevalle was, aangesien daar
Zoeloe woorde is wat nie in Engels bestaan nie.

Die resultate het getoon dat meeste van die behoeftes van plakkersdorpe baie basies is.
Waardevolle resultlate het na yore gekom oor hoe hierdie behoeftes tot bevrediging van die
gemeenskappe voorsien kan word.

Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing is ooreenkomstig met die resultate

van die studie bespreek.

iv
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

LEADER
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii
SUMMARY • I iii
OPSOMMING iv
APPENDIX A 54
APPENDIX B 78

CHAPTER 1 1
1.1 Introductory Background 1
1.2 Motivation for Study 2
1.3 Research Questions 2
1.4 Aims and Goals/Objectives of the Study 3
1.5 Research Design 3
1.6 Outline of the Research 4
1.7 Conceptualisation 5
1.7.1 Needs 5
1.7.2 Needs Assessment 5
1.7.3 Informal Settlement 6
1.7.4 Community Development 6
1.8 Research Problems and Deficiencies 8
1.9 Summary 8

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE STUDY 9

2.1 Introduction 9
2.2 Informal Settlement: An Overview 9
2.3 Informal Areas in South Africa 11
 PAGE

2.4 The Causes of Informal Settlements 11

2.5 Informal Settlements in KwaZulu-Natal 12
2.5.1 Definition of informal settlements 13
2.5.2 Physical characteristics of shacks in KwaZulu-Natal 13
2.6 Community Profiling 14
2.6.1 Why profile community needs 14
2.6.1.1 Voluntary/community organisations 14
2.6.2 Criteria of a community profile 15
2.7 Needs Assessment 16
2.7.1 Reasons for conducting a needs assessment 17
2.7.2 Important issues in needs assessments 17
2.7.3 Key factors basic to a successful need assessment 18
2.7.4 Community participation in needs assessment 18
2.8 Leadership issues in Informal Settlements 19
2.8.1 Tribal and freehold land 20
2.8.2 Township informal settlements 20
2.8.3 Outer core and inner city 20
2.9 Summary 21

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 22

3.1 Introduction 22
3.1.1 Process of research 22
3.2 Goals and Aims of the Study 23
3.3 Research Design 23
3.3.1 Sampling Procedures 24
3.4 Data Collection 26
3.4.1 Focus groups 26
3.4.2 Advantages of focus groups 27
3.5 Literature survey 29
3.5.1 Three-phase model for assessing needs 29
3.5.1.1 Phase 1: Pre assessment phase 29

vi
 PAGE

3.5.1.2 Phase 2: Assessment phase 30

3.5.1.2.1 Sources of data 31
3.5.1.2.2 Method of gathering data 31
3.5.1.3 Phase 3: Post assessment phase 31
3.5.1.3.1 Set priorities on needs 32
3.5.1.3.2 Factors that influence priorities 32
3.5.1.3.3 Select solution, strategies 32
3.5.1.3.4 Propose an action plan 33
3.5.1.3.5 Evaluate the quality of the needs assessment 33
3.5.1.3.6 Prepare reports and briefings 34
3.6 Reliability of the Research Data 34
3.6.1 Reasons for error 34
3.6.2 Publicity and community suspicion 35
3.7 Data Analysis 35
3.8 Summary 32

CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS 38

4.1 Introduction 38
4.2 Compilation of the Questionnaire 38
4.3 Identifying Details 38
4.4 A Report on Analysis 38
4.4.1 Coding 39
4.4.2 Categorising 39
4.4.3 Central themes 40
4.5 Validation Methods 41
4.5.1 Literature control of the findings 42
4.5.1.1 Reasons for informal settlements 42
4.5.1.2 Identification of needs/problems 43
4.5.1.3 Possible solutions 43
4.5.1.4 Suggestion on intervening professionals 46
4.5.1.5 Recommended tools for assessment 46

vii
 PAGE
4.5.1.6 Problems in need assessment 47
4.5.2 Triangulation 47
4.6 Summary 47

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDELINES

5.1 Introduction 49
5.2 Discussions and Implication of Findings 49
5.2.1 Information about the involvement in the informal settlement 50
5.2.2 Information about the needs in the informal settlement 50
5.3 Conclusions 51
5.4 Recommendations 51
5.5 Suggestions for Further Study 51

BIBLIOGRAPHY 54

viii
 CHAPTER 1

1.1 INTRODUCTORY BACKGROUND

Go to the people, Live with them

Love them.
Learn from them, Start with what they know,
Build on what they have.
Of all the best leaders, when their work is done
Their task accomplished. People will remark
We have done it ourselves
Lao Tsu China 700 BC

The role of a social worker has always included making meaningful change in the lives of the
people in communities, wherever they are. Their jobs involves amongst others mobilising
people to take charge of their own development, in other words; promote the active
involvement of people in their own development.

According to Gray (1996: 68) social workers perform a type of community practice, aptly
described by Lappin (1983) as involving work on two levels, one embodying direct work with
communities and the other involving indirect work by representative functioning in the area
of social service planning, co-ordination and provision.

The study is undertaken to explain possible roles of social workers in community

development. It is also taken to identify gaps in service

delivery with a purpose of finding out about possible roles of a social worker in filling those
gaps. The understanding of the social workers role in community development is important
since there are certain other professionals who are also involved in community development
and role overlap often occur. This can be best avoided by the social workers understanding
clearly what should be their role.

1
1.2 MOTIVATION FOR STUDY

Various professionals are involved in community development, such as youth workers,

community development officers etc. Role overlaps occur in the community where roles are
not clearly outlined, for example in some instances it is not clear whether social workers or
youth workers should do the tracing of parents for juvenile offenders. The motive of the study
is:

To find out from community 'members, what they understand as the roles of a social worker
in an informal settlement and what services they think should be rendered by a social worker.

There is also a possibility that there are some gaps in service delivery and this brings about
confusion regarding the role of the social worker.

There is a need to find out from other community workers about the services they offer in
informal settlements. This will enable a social worker that specialises in community work to
define his/her role within the context of the community. It can also indicate:

Whether there are any role overlaps between the services of the social workers, and those of
other community workers in their work within informal settlements, and find means how those
overlaps can be addressed, such a role definition will not only be of benefit to the service
delivery system, but also to the consumer system.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

In research it is of importance to formulate certain questions based on the motivation of the

study. The questions relevant to the study are:

1.3.1 what is the outline and context of a need assessment framework most suitable for
addressing social work services in informal settlement?
1.3.2 How do social workers understand and define their role in terms of service delivery in
an informal settlement?

2
This indicates that the researcher will do a needs assessment in the informal settlement;
identify the definition parameters of the social workers role and then formulate guidelines in
order to link the needs and roles described.

1.4 AIMS AND GOALS / OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aims and objectives are formulated to answer the given research questions. The objective
of the study is to describe the welfare needs of an informal settlement.
The aims of the study is to: '

1.4.1 To survey literature on relevant concepts such as informal settlement functioning,

social workers role definition in terms of community development and needs
assessment theoretical frameworks.
1.4.2 To identify and describe the welfare needs of an informal settlement.
1.4.3 To conceptualise the role of social worker's in an informal settlement.

1.5 RESEARCH DESIGN

This study is qualitative in nature. Qualitative research is described as a dynamic process,

which involves the linking together of problems, concepts and methods (Bryan and Burgess,
1994:74). This means that findings in qualitative study cannot be reduced to numbers, but a
researcher can explain and describe a phenomenon.

The reason for studying groups is that groups possess characteristics which are not necessarily
applicable to the behaviour of individuals. This means that people behave differently in
groups that they do as individuals, for example people tend to be more vigilant in-groups than
as individuals. The type of sampling that is used is known as purposive sampling. Creswell
in De Vos (1998:46) supports the using of this type of sampling by stating that "the idea of
qualitative research is to purposefully select informants (or documents or visual material) that
will best answer the research question. No attempt is made to select informants at random".

3
Subjects of the study were chosen through their involvement in the informal settlements. A
short structured interview schedule was used to conduct interviews and guide the respondents.
Participant's responses were recorded on an audiotape recorder. Some interviews were
conducted in Zulu and then translated into English. The steps that were taken in data analysis
involved, transcribing audio responses into written material, and coding them using both open
and axial coding.

Categories that emerge from coding were translated into themes. Themes were then analysed
by putting all the information together and drawing conclusions through checking the interplay
between various factors. Thig type of data analysis is known as content analysis. Potney and
Watkins (1993:24) describe this type of analysis as an inductive process with constant
interplay between observed reality and theoretical interplay of that reality. Content analysis
is also described by Babbie (1995:311) as "essentially a coding operation. Communication-
oral, written, or other are coded or classified according to some conceptual framework.
Coding in content analysis involves the logic of conceptualisation and operationalisation".

The research strategy is of contextual importance in that it concentrated on theoretical validity.

The researcher adopted an outsider perspective. The subjects were dynamic and were studied
holistically in their natural environment. The researcher checked for the most common biases
that could steal into the process of drawing conclusion. Triangulation and weighting of
evidence was used together with being constantly on check for the researcher effects and
checking for representatives.

1.6 OUTLINE OF THE RESEARCH

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTORY :BACKGROUND

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE STUDY ON INFORMAL SETTLEMENT
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOCY
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND LITERATURE CONTROL:
CHAPTERS: CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND GUIDELINES

4
1.7 CONCEPTUALISATION

Babbie (1995:129) define conceptualisation as "the process of specifying the vague mental
imagery of our concepts, sorting out the knows of observation and measurements that will be
appropriate for our research". In defining specific abstract concepts the researcher uses
operational definitions as specified by different authors in the field. The term informal
settlement will be used in the same manner as squatter settlements throughout the study, since
they mean one and the same thing.

1.7.1 Needs

Needs are defined by Sredl & Charles (1992:3) as opportunities for improvement based on
gaps between what it is and what it should be, between the real and the ideal, between current
conditions and desirable criteria, between optimal and actual performance in products, outputs,
and or outcomes.

Lisk (1985:18) talks about what is known, as a basic needs approach to development. This
approach focuses sharply on human-well being in so far as its ultimate objective is to achieve
significant improvements in levels of living, particularly with reference disadvantaged and
deprived households and socio-economic groups within a country's population. This approach
is of relevance to this study since it also related to disadvantaged communities.

1.7.2 Needs assessment

Needs assessment is a systematic set of procedures undertaken for the purpose of setting
priorities and making decisions about programmes or organisational improvement and
allocation of resources. The priorities are based on identified needs (Witkin & Altschuld,
1995:4). The authors also define needs assessment as a systematic approach that progresses
through a defined series of phases. It gathers data by means of established procedures and
methods designed for specific purpose. The kinds and scopes of methods are selected to fit
the purposes and context of the need assessment. Needs assessment sets priorities and
determines criteria for solutions so that planners and managers can make defensible decisions.
Needs assessment leads to action that will improve programs, services, and organisational

5
structure.

Needs assessment is also a formal process of identifying, scooping, documenting, and

justifying needs placing them in priority order, and selecting those for reduction or elimination.
Needs assessment will identify both external and external gaps in results (Sredl & Charles,
1992:A5)

1.7.3 Informal settlements

Dough and McCarthy (1994:1) define informal settlements as dense settlements comprising
of communities housed in self-constructed shelters under conditions of informal or traditional
land tenure.

Bennet (1993:15) state that informal settlements are usually made up of structures built from
a variety of materials that is available to the residents at the time. This material may include
galvanised iron, wood, tin, packing cases or plastic. These structures have as their primary
purpose, the realisation of one of the most basic needs; need for shelter.

The urban foundation in Bennet (1993:15) describe them as settlements where no formal
structures or formal development of services have taken places, and where no plans have been
authorised or passed for that particular area or community.

The researcher define them as new settlements with informal housing marked with very few
or absence of basic services and leadership not properly structured. For the purpose of the
study the researcher will concentrate on an informal settlement that has a potential to be
developed.

1.7.4 Community Development

It is the social movement which occurs when somebody symbolising the values of progress
and peoples common felt interests motivates the community as a unit of action to meet those
interest through a planned self-effort mobilised not only by peoples organisation but also by
continuing education and support by technical services (Ferrinho, 1980:42).

6
Du Toit in Lombard (1992:109) explains community development as, "that process by which
the disguised, unexpected and latent characteristics or potential of people are developed, made
available, are utilised or are transformed for the enhancement of their quality of life, the
stimulation of modernisation and the improvement of social functioning of those people.

The United Nations Definition (1963) in Lund (1987:3), defines community development as
"the processes by which the efforts of the people themselves are united with those of
government authorities to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of the
communities, to integrate theie communities into the life of the nation, and to enable them to
contribute fully to national progress: the participation by people themselves in efforts to
improve their level of living, with as much reliance as possible on their own initiatives, self
help and mutual help and make those more effective".

According to the White Paper on Welfare (1997:9) community development is multi-sectoral

and multi-disciplinary. It is an integral part of developmental social welfare. The White paper
further elaborates that "community development strategies will address basic material,
physical and psycho-social needs. The community development approach philosophy, process,
methods and skills will be used in strategies at local level to meet the needs. The community
development approach will inform the reorientation of social welfare programmes towards
comprehensive, integrated and developmental strategies".

Gray (1996: 54) believe that it is important that social workers seriously commit themselves
to community development because:

It is a strategy most likely to deal with poverty and, therefore to meet the needs of the
communities in social development.
It provides a way of redistributing social work services and resources to the urban and rural
poor and deploying social workers in these areas of great need.
It is relevant to the South African socio-political and economic context.

7
1.8 RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND DEFICIENCIES

Respondents have a tendency of saying things that they think the researcher want to
hear when they are being taped. This factor might have influenced the respondents in
the study.

The researcher is a social worker herself, this made it very difficult for her to be
objective when interviewing the social work focus group.

Some of the interviews were done in Zulu and later interpreted into English, this can
result in the statement losing connotation, or a respondent being misunderstood, this
is because some Zulu words loose meaning when translated to the English language.

1.9 SUMMARY

In this chapter an attempt was made to explain the context of this study. An introduction was
made as to why the study was conducted. A motivation for the study was given. Giving
questions this study is attempting to answer followed this.

Aims, objectives and goals of the study were formulated. A discussion of the research design,
which included amongst other things. Method of research, data collection and instruments and
a discussion followed this on data analysis.

A discussion on the validity of the study was engaged.

8
 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE STUDY

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Community development as a force for change in urban and rural context, is increasingly gaining
popularity between both social workers and community developers. In this chapter a basic
theoretical overview of the process of needs assessment is presented. Finally a presentation will
be made on the natural leaders of the informal settlements. In this chapter emphasis will be put
on informal settlements in KwaZulu-Natal.

Boarden (1994:13) argues that shacks built in unplanned, peripheral areas of the city are thus far
the most predominant forms of housing in the metropolitan area. In South Africa areas such as
KwaZulu-Natal has a high proportion of shack dwellers living in the metropolitan area. The
other two major metropolitan areas of Witwatersrand and Cape Town do not display this pattern
because of the application of comprehensive influx control laws.

2.2 INFORMAL SETTLEMENT: AN OVERVIEW

The current phase of squatting, which began in 1968, is part of a much wider flourishing of
community-based social and political action, fired by the failure of established political channels
and organisations to express the needs of people at a local level. 'Nowhere has this failure been
more apparent than in the field of housing. Despite endless election promises, no political party
has succeeded in homelessness, or in reducing the amount of empty property. The disillusion
that this failure has produced has prompted thousands of people to take the only course left open
to them to take action in pursuit of the housing they need (Wates & Wolmar 1980:1).

According to habitat (the United Nations' centre for Human Settlements), a quarter of the
world's population is accommodated in extremely bad living and environmental conditions, and
about 100 million people have no accommodation (and are compelled to sleep in the street, under
bridges, on vacant plots and in alleys) Habitat (1987) also stated that nearly 50% of the urban
population in less developed countries live in slums and squatter settlements, while in some cities
this proportion is as high as nearly 80% (Emmett, 1984: 203).

9
In the Third World, squatting usually refers to the illegal occupation of land, rather than of
existing housing as normally the case in the first world. Three major processes of squatter
settlement formation in the Third World have been identified: mass invasion, pirate subdivision,
and infiltration. Mass invasions of land belonging to private landowners, who have not given
permission for squatter occupation, are usually well organised and are often achieved literally
overnight (Main in Potter & Salau, 1990:1).

Aldrich & Sandhu (1995:19) states that, "the presence of slums and squatter settlements in a
society is a clear indications of The failure of a society and government to provide adequate
habitat for human development. The term 'slum' is used to indicate housing which falls below
a certain level which is necessary to contribute to human development. The term 'squatter
settlements' is used to indicate housing that is either the result of illegal occupation or has been
developed in an unauthorised fashion (World Bank 1992). The amount of squatter housing is
one indication of the extent of housing poverty in a society. It indicates a crisis because squatter
housing generally lacks the primary, fundamental requirements of certainty of tenure. Used
together, the presence of slums and squatter indicates a habitat, which fails to contribute to
human development, and/or lacks the most fundamental guarantees necessary for the building
of human communities. The presence of either of these two conditions is indicative of housing
poverty.

Contrary to the popular belief, shack dwellers are not all newly- arrived migrants who have
trekked to the city to seek their fortunes, and will return "home" if conditions are rough enough.
They are committed urban dwellers who are forced to endure this lifestyle because they have
nowhere else to go; no other option. This is supported by the urban foundation research, which
shows that of the 1,6 to 2,4 million people living in backyard shacks, garages and informal
settlements in the PWV, the vast majority has been living there for five to 10 years. Over 50%
of them grew up in an urban township, and nearly 80% of the men are formally employed.

1 0
2.3 INFORMAL AREAS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Informal housing is a long-standing problem in South Africa, but has in recent years become an
increasing concern for housing and other authorities, a concern that is primarily the product of
the socio-political changes taking place in this country and the realisation that the coercive
measures of the past have failed. In the international literature on housing and related matters
the term "Squatting" is mostly used to describe all forms of informal housing. In South Africa,
a distinction is made between squatting and informal settlements on the basis of the legal nature
of the settlement. "Squatting" is officially reserved for the illegal occupation of land and the
construction of illegal makeshift dwellings on the land so occupied. The term informal
settlement is reserved for legalised) shack settlements (Emmett, 1992:1).

At the beginning of this decade, over six million people lived in informal houses in South
African urban and metropolitan areas. The vast majority of these were black people. Close to
four million of those in informal urban housing were in the six major metropolitan areas (table
1). Strikingly, more than half of the black metropolitan population were resident in one form of
informal housing or another (Hart, 1995:23).

2.4 THE CAUSES OF INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS

While discriminatory legislation like influx control, the migrant labour and hostel systems, the
shortage of formal housing, and other such factors played a key role in squatting, they do not
provide a complete explanation for why squatting increased so rapidly towards the end of the
1980s, as discriminatory legislation, migrant labour and the housing shortage has been in
existence for many years.

According to Emmett (1992:61) the reasons for the rise in squatting are firstly an accumulative
effects of the housing crisis. As very little has been done over the years to address the housing
shortage, natural population increases and the steady migration of people into the area could be
expected to reach a critical point.

1 1
Secondly, the abolition of influx control is also given as another reason. People are now free to
move to the cities since there is no legislation to control them. Thirdly one also need to take into
account the increasing mechanisation and the debt crisis in agriculture, as well as changes in
demand for domestic labour.

The above observation is also supported by Jones, (1990:73) when he states that "the freeze on
housing in the Peninsula has had particularly disastrous and painful effects, and has contributed
directly to the situation of severe overcrowding which now exists in hostels and squatter
settlements throughout the area.

Table 1 Housing in the six major metropolitan areas of South Africa: 1990

Area Total black population Informally housed population

PWV 5 213 000 2 260 000
Durban 2 600 000 1 800 000
Port Elizabeth - 580 000 320 000
Cape Town 570 000 330 000
Bloemfontein 470 000 160 000
East London 342 000 105 000
Source: Urban foundation, 1991

2.5 INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN KWAZULU-NATAL

The largest concentration of the informally housed, outside the Durban functional region, occurs
in Pietermaritzburg area in Edendale Valley and in Vulindlela with some 200 000 people living
in informal settlements. It is also estimated that over 150 000 people may live in dense informal
settlements outside Newcastle on the farms Cavan, Johnston and Blaubosch. (Harrison and
Smith, 1992, Sutcliffe, 1989:2).

Other important concentration of informal settlements are to be found in settlements around

Vryheid. Particularly abutting Mondlo Township in Nquthu district, settlements in Richards Bay,
which are adjacent to the township Esikhawini and Ngwelezane township, settlements adjacent
to the township of Sundumbili which serve the industrial estate of Isithebe, as well as dense
12
settlements in rural areas, such as Nondweni and K5 in Nquthu, which are a product Of force
removals and farm evictors. In addition, the NPA has identified some 200 informal settlements
outside the Durban functional region but within administrative Natal.

2.5.1 Definition of informal settlements

Defined by Hindson and McCarthy (1994:1) as dense settlements comprising of communities

housed in self constructed shelters under conditions of informal or traditional land tenure. The
term covers a range of different kinds of settlements in terms of shelter type, forms of informal
tenure degrees of official recognition and location in the rural- urban spectrum.

The urban foundation define informal settlements as settlements where no formal structures or
development have taken place and where no plans have been authorised or passed for that
particular area or community

2.5.2 Physical characteristics of shacks in KwaZulu-Natal

Informal settlements are usually made up of structures built from a variety of materials that is
available to the residents at the time. These materials may include galvanised iron, wood, tin,
packing cases or plastic. These structures have as their primary purposes the realisation of one
of the most basic needs: need for shelter (Bennet, 1993:32).

This description is further confirmed by Haaroff (1993:10) In Boarden (1994:52) when he state
that, a study of the spontaneous settlements near Durban, identified three general wall
construction methods of shacks:

Pole-frame with infill-timber poles set in ground with horizontal members of infill but
predominantly soil.
Load bearing - concrete blocks or sun dried mud blocks (13% of dwellings).
Frame and panel of plywood boarding fixed to timber frame work (14% of dwellings)
second -hand corrugated-iron sheeting was the predominantly roofing material (57 %)
with plastic or bituminous sheeting fixed to plywood making up the remainder.

13
In the case of floors 635 of the dwellings used cement the remainder being mud, three quarters
of floors were covered with either linoleum or grass mating. Over 70% of dwellings included
glazed windows the balance having opening windows made of timber boarding.

Although informal settlements are build on a certain jurisdiction they are not necessarily
governed by that jurisdiction. In many instances they have they own leaders elected by them or
self- appointed. In the next section the researcher will delve into this more.

2.6 COMMUNITY PROFILING

Community profiling is explained by Hawtin, Hughes & Smith (1995:13). As "a comprehensive
description of needs of a population that is defined or defines itself as a community, and the
resources that exist within that community, carried out with the active involvement of the
community itself". This indicates that community profiling is similar to a need assessment.

2.6.1 Why profile community needs

There are various reasons why community needs are profiled; for example a new worker doing
community work in the are might do a community profile in order to plan his intervention.
Community profiling can also be used for the following:

2.6.1.1 Voluntary/community organisations

Hawtin, Hughes & Smith (1995:11) claim that voluntary or community organisations have used
community profiling exercises as a means of demonstrating to the service providers that the
community has needs that are not being met or that it lacks services or resources of a particular
type.

• Hawtin, Hughes & Smith (1995:11) further argue that community profiles have been used
by both statutory and community organisations as part of a broader community development
strategy. They have also been used as the basis of campaigns against particular development.

14
 Voluntary or community groups as a way of holding policy makers and politicians
accountable might also use community profiles. They can establish a baseline or a
benchmark against which the effectiveness of subsequent development may be measured.
That might also be used as a means of community or voluntary groups reassessing the
relevance of their activities (Hawtins et al, 1995:12).

This is important since funders are now very strict in ensuring that they are funding, relevant
services beneficiary to the community.

2.6.2 Criteria of a community profile

Each and every community profile that is implemented need to meet particular criteria for it to
be regarded as viable and relevant and those criteria according to Hawtins, Hughes & Percy-
Smith (1995:14) are:

The community must be involved at all stages of the exercise (design, fieldwork, analysis and
follow-up) and hence achieve a sense of ownership of both the process and the outcomes.
The community profiling process must be designed in ways that generates ideas and
discussions and lead to action.
It is especially important in community development context that mechanisms are built into
the process of communication about what is happening both during and after the profile.
The profiling process should go beyond an assessment of needs and become a positive
exercise identifying strengths and opportunities within communities.
It should provide opportunities for a variety of views to be expressed across a wide range of
subjects and make connections between issues.

2.7 NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Aponte (1993:183) define need assessment as "a systematic way of identifying community
needs; planning tools; data collecting and program planning methods; methods for establishing
programme priorities; method for generating data in order to make administrative decisions;
processes that allow for program decisions based on systematic collected data; and/or vehicles
15
through which existing programs can be evaluated".

Nguyen, Attison & Bottino (1983) define need assessment as "an environmental monitoring
system, designed to measure and make judgements about program relevance, adequacy and
appropriateness, based on systematic collection and analysis of information regarding the needs
for health and human services as filtered through multiple levels of societal perspectives". As
generated through multiple measurement approaches (Bell, Aponte, Sundell, Murrell, Lin,
1983:106).

In planning and development of any community service, the needs of community should be
foremost in the thoughts of the administrators, hence the planning and development of necessity,
changes according to the circumstances of the people requiring such services. To put it more
simply development and planning for community advancement are complex activities involving
constant changing entities, circumstances and events stemming from human needs, desires and
aspirations and the financial climate.

Upshur (1982:150) elaborates to this by adding that "the concept of needs assessment includes
many different approaches ranging from relatively informal interviews to sophisticated surveys
requiring knowledge of research principles and statistical concepts. Deciding which one to select
depend on:

The amount of time and money your organisation has to devote to the need assessment.
The level of expertise available in your group or that can be easily obtained.
The degree of detail and accuracy of the information required or desired.
The type of method that would work in your community.

2.7.1 Reasons for conducting a needs assessment

Needs assessment is conducted because needs are basic to human condition. Masserman (1993)
in upsher (1982:151) has described man's three primordial needs as: (1) the biological requisites
for survival: air, water, food and shelter; (2) the interpersonal needs for companionship and
affection essential for a sense of identity, emotional expression, and a meaningful existence; and
16
(3) the spiritual yearnings for a faith or metaphysic that gives a transcendent meaning to life.

According to Witkin & Altschuld (1995:5), a need assessment is conducted to derive information
and perceptions of values as a guide to making policy and program decisions that will benefit
specific groups of people. It also helps in laying the groundwork for designing a new or
improved program of service or education. It also helps in restructuring an organisation in light
of better understanding of its goals. They set criteria for hiring trained personnel, and
determining possible solutions to complex problems.

2.7.2 Important issues in need assessments

Any assessment project should provide information, which is reliable and valid and useful for
programme planning development and modification.

Bell, Sundell, Aponte, Murrell & Lin (1983:295) states that, Need assessment analyses must
focus on issues related to population characteristics, environmental characteristics, individual
need states, as well as five other critical issues related to the overall effectiveness and
appropriateness of the total service delivery system:

Availability of services relative to population characteristics.

Accessibility of services relative to population needs states.
Awareness of service opportunities among the residents of the social area.
Level of service integration and continuity of service vis-a-vis multi problem individuals and
the availability of service network linkages.
Levels of resources and distribution of available resources vis-a-vis need states in the social
area.

17
 2.7.3 Key factors basic to a successful need assessment

Watkins & Alschuld (1995:17) outline the key factors in a need assessment as:

Graphic number 1: Key factors in needs assessment

. , , .• . ,
' Keeping in minds the'valtie and.necessitybroad
of based a ici atio w -stakeholders :
Choosing appropriate means of gathering infdrinatiori aboideriticAriiikeS andithee-;:4:la
Recognise core.valuet in •the group whose needs are _;being`assessed y k...
,- , • _ ., . • _ ..
Needs assessmentis a participatoiy.piocess; it is not something that is " orie:to• people
_
-—
Needs assessment cannot i Ore political facfors. Spite 6"-:nia .view the iOCesi as:causin gf
-

aloss Of-control. The priorities derivedMa be counter2;td.'erittenc • i eas m e.s stem

Data gathering Methodibylheinselves are not_nee s‘assesSnieilt. Th e needsassessmen
- s t. ...
akota
,

decision ,thaking pri*ess i%in,#hich.the data.are. b ut onePPITIPoPer1

The above statements are very important. Needs assessment is not complete if the community
is not involved. Community participation is of utmost importance. To be able to work with
communities it is essential to follow the right channels. This means being able to identify the
leadership of the community and being able to work through them.

2.7.4 Community participation in needs assessment

According to Lisk (1985:22) one can distinguish four main directions through which broad based
participation in development can enhance the fulfilment of basic needs:
Playing a part in the definition of basic needs.
Enhancing the generation of resources required to achieve basic needs output target.
Improving the distribution and access to essential goods and services, and
Satisfying the psychological desire of people to influence decisions, which affect their
conditions of work and life.

The next section will deal in details with leadership in informal settlements.

18
2.7.5 Tribal and Freehold land

Hindson, McCarthy (1994:169) states that, where shack settlements occur on tribal land,
traditional authority structures are the jurisdiction of local authority comprising a hierarchy of
indunas, tribal councillors and tribal chief, Fourie notes, the traditional authority has significant
land allocation and judicial and other powers.

The authors further elaborates that where informal settlements fall on black freehold land, the
formal administration of the area as generally undertaken by the Natal Provincial Administration,
in other areas numerous and at times contending leadership structures have emerged over time.

2.7.6 Township informal settlements

The situation of informal settlements in townships has depended to an extent on whether the
township fell under KwaZulu or the Natal Provincial Administration. In both cases black local
authorities were considered to be the formal authority structured, but in many cases the de fact
leadership have been by politicians either the ANC or the IFP.

The absence or the presence of local civic or developmental structures, and their strengths, has
also complicated relations of power, while there have mostly been pragmatic alliances between
civic and political structures, these can break down (Hindson & McCarthy, 1994:168).

2.7.7 Outer core and inner city

Informal settlements in the outer core are located between townships and white or Indian
suburbs. Settlements of this sort generally fell under the administration of white, Indian or
coloured local authority structures or under the NPA, House of Delegates or House of
Representatives.

20
2.8 LEADERSHIP ISSUES IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS

According to Aldrich & Sandhu (1995:190) the main characteristics of squatter housing is the
lack of formal ownership of the land on which the squatters live.

Although informal settlements are build on the doorsteps of a particular jurisdiction there are not
necessarily administered in that jurisdiction. This results in a lot of problems for the settlers. In
most instances informal settlements have their own leaderships. In KwaZulu-Natal the
leadership of the settlements is affected very much by the politics, resulting in each settlement
aligned to a particular political organisation.

This is supported by Morris (1995: 33), when he state that, "in shantytowns law, administrative
regulation, and control over property are not administered by a centrally established and socially
accepted juridical demonstration of rights, codified in administrative rules and regulations, which
consequently can be legally challenged and enforced through the apparatus of the state. Rather
they are based on the ability of social groupings in these areas to exercise localised control over
the material over the material resources central to urban reproduction and therefore to claim and
enforce ownership of them. Political rights of control, allegiance and social acceptance, arbitrary
extraction of tribute, rent, taxes and levies are based upon these de facto, rather than de jure
property relations".

According to Hindson & McCarthy (1994:167), despite a tendency to treat informal settlements
as homogeneous, common sense categories have emerged usually with their spatial location. The
type of formal administrative arrangements found in informal settlements is theoretically
dependent on the de jure ownership and control of land. By contrast leadership structures in
settlements may occur across very different de jure or de facto ownership arrangements or
understanding.

Informal settlements on the outer urban periphery generally fall on tribal; black freehold land or
state administered land. In some cases they also fall on the edges of or within white local
authority areas. In cases where different agencies have varying jurisdiction over settlements
complex administrative arrangements have to be established.

19
2.9 SUMMARY

This chapter serves to review literature connected to the study the concepts of community
profiling versus that of needs assessment was explained and the two terms compared. A three-
phase model of assessing community needs was discussed. A lot of information was given on
informal settlements in KwaZulu-Natal including where they could be found and how they are
built. Since informal settlements have their own "governments" information was given as to
leaderships in informal settlements. This chapter serves to give the reader a theoretical
background of the rest of the study.

21
 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter serves as the background to the research process in study as it aims to orientate the
reader to what how the research will actually be conducted. Sections that are included are the
literature on the need assessment method that was used, the research methodology; data collection
method and how data will be analysed and interpreted.

3.1.1 Process of research

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

V
DATA COLLECTION

•
LITERATURE SURVEY FOCUS GROUP NEEDS ASSESMENTS
INTERVIEWS

DATA ANALYSIS

CATEGORISING
CODEING

CENTRAL THEMES

V
VALIDATION LITERATURE CONTROL

GUIDELINES

22
3.2 GOALS AND AIMS OF THE STUDY

The aims of the study is to:

Survey literature on relevant concepts such as informal settlements functioning, social
worker's role definition in terms of community development and needs assessment theoretical
frameworks.
To identify and describe the welfare needs of an informal settlement.
To conceptualise the role of social workers in an informal settlement.

The objective of the study is the development of a guideline for the service delivery system in
order to address the welfare needs of an informal settlement.

3.3 RESEARCH DESIGN

The study is of qualitative nature. Qualitative research is explained by Macmillan & Schumacher
(1993:372) as naturistic inquiry, the use of non interfering data collection strategies to discover
the natural flow of events and processes and how participants interpret them. They add that most
qualitative research describes and analyses people's individual and collective social actions,
beliefs, thoughts, and perceptions.

Qualitative researchers collect data by interfering with selected persons in their settings (field
research) and by obtaining relevant documents. Berg (1995:7) state that, "Qualitative procedures
provide a means of accessing unquantifiable facts about the actual people researchers observe or
talk to or people represented by their personal traces (such as letters, photographs, newspaper
accounts, diaries and so on). As a result, qualitative technique allow the researcher to share in
understanding and perception of others and to explore how people structure give meaning to their
daily lives.

The goal of exploratory design is explained by Mouton & Marais (1994:43) as exploration of the
relatively unknown research area, and the aims being:

23
 To gain insight into the phenomenon.
To explicate the central concepts and constructs. To determine priorities for future research.

According to Mouton & Marais (1994:43), the most important research design considerations,
which apply in exploratory studies, are the need:

To follow an open and flexible research strategy, and

To use methods such as literature reviews, Interviews, case studies, and information which
may lead to insight and comprehension. The main aim of this investigation was to gain
an understanding as to what are the major needs in the informal settlements.

3.3.1 Sampling procedures

Rubin & Babbie (1989:233) states that the chief criterion of the quality of a sample is the degree
to which it is representative, the extent to which the characteristics of a sample are the same as
those of the population from which it was selected.

The type of sampling that was used in the study is known as purposive sampling. The researcher
used this type of sampling to ensure that the sample selected had adequate information and
knowledge. This type of sampling is according to Macmillan & Schumacher (1993:378),
"selecting information rich cases for studying in-depth". It is done to increase the utility of
information obtained from a small sample. Rubin & Babbie support the choosing of the sample
where they state that "social work sampling is often conducted in situations in which it is not
feasible to select probability sample. Occasionally it may be appropriate to select the sample on
the basis of your own knowledge of the population, its elements, and the nature of the research
aims" (1989:229).

The type of purposive sampling that was used is known as snowball or network sampling. This
is a strategy, which each participant or a proceeding group or individual names group. The

24
researcher develops a profile of the attributes or a particular trait sought and asks each participant
to suggest others who fit the profile or has the attributes (Macmillan & Schumacher, (1993:381).
This method requires that information be obtained about variations among sub units before a
sample is chosen. The researcher than searches for information rich key informants groups places
or events to study.

Baker (1994:163) defines this type of sampling as non- probability sampling, which the subjects
selected, is seen to meet the study needs. The limitations of non-probability sampling are that not
every element in the population has a chance of being included in the sample. The researcher
decided on this method regardless of the limitations because Polit & Hugler in Madlopa (1993:
43) states that "if the population is homogeneous on critical attributes, then systematic biases may
be negligible in the study. People to be included in the sample are regarded as people rich with
knowledge".

A sample of fifteen units was chosen for the study. This sample is representative of the population
under investigation. These sample included five social workers, chosen for their involvement with
informal settlements, five community workers, also involved in informal settlements and five
leaders of the informal settlements. Community members were not included in the sample. The
researcher felt that since the population of the informal settlement is not stable, people chosen
might not have adequate knowledge of the needs in the settlement.

A sample of thirteen people involved with informal settlements participated in this study. This
sample included five social workers, four community workers and four leaders of the
communities. Two units of the sample that were selected did not come for interviews. In this
study people were targeted through their involvement in informal settlements, and were then
requested to identify others that can be involved in the study. Social workers were targeted
through a forum they are involved. Sampling of this type is relevant to this study since according
to Baker (1994:165). It has often been done in studies of elite groups, either those in power in a
community or members of upper classes.

25
3.4 DATA COLLECTION

3.4.1 Focus groups

Two methods of data collection that were used in this study are focus group survey method and
literature survey. Survey research is a method of data collection in which a specifically defined
group of individuals is asked to answer identical questions. These questions form a data set of the
study (Baker, 1994:172). The survey method was used because the researcher felt it was best for
the study since, Baker (1994:202) state that, "survey research tend to be the method of choice for
those who want to look at the broad pattern of social life or who want to describe widespread
social reactions".

The survey method of collecting data was administered to focus groups. The focus groups
involved included a focus group of five social workers, four community workers and four
community leaders. The focus group interview is according to Witkin & Alschuld (1995:171) "a
structured process for interviewing a small group of individuals. Obtaining a consensus is not a
goal. Rather, it is to elicit how the participants feel about the topic and how to identify the range
of perspectives regarding it".

Interaction is generally two - way between the facilitator and the group members, but the group
members may also interact with one another, members were encouraged to share their own point
of view even if it differs from that of a colleague. Using focus groups the researchers strive to
learn through discussions and about conscious psychological and sociological characteristics and
processes among various groups (Berg, 1995:68).

A focus group interview could be described as a purposive discussion of a specific topic or related
topics taking place between eight to ten similar background and common interest. The group
interaction will consist of verbal and non-verbal communication and an interplay of perceptions

26
and opinions that will stimulate the discussions without necessarily modifying or changing ideas
and opinions of participating individuals (De Vos, 1998:314).

Witkin & Alschuld (1995:171) illustrate the purpose of focus groups as to understand the
following:

Potential needs or concerns of a group in a specific area.

The reason the problem or need exist.
How a group might respond to a particular solution strategy.
What their general thoughts about an issue are.
Attitudes toward an institution or program.
The manner in which they refer to the topic.

Focus groups often elicit information and perceptions not easily gained from other data collection
techniques (Witkin & Alschuld, 1995:173). In selecting participants for a focus group, Alreck &
Settle (1995:339) state that "the focus group participants should be homogeneous in one respect
and heterogeneous in another, similar in some respect but different in others. If the participants
differ greatly in every way, they'll have a hard time relating to one another. By contrast, if most
or all members of the group are of an almost identical ilk — then they're practically clone of one
another- then they are likely to react as one. There would be too little diversity and too much
redundancy".

3.4.2 Advantages of focus groups

The advantages of a focus group interview according to Berg (1995:68) are:

Focus groups interviews allows the researcher to observe a process that is often of
profound importance to qualitative investigation namely interaction.
Focus group interviews allows researchers to access the substantive content of verbally
expressed views, opinions, experiences and attitudes.
Focus groups provide a means assessing intentionally created conversations about research

27
 topics or problems.
(d) Focus groups access fragments of a person's biography or life structure.

Semi-structured questionnaires were used. The researcher developed the questionnaires. They
all had open-ended questions, to facilitate discussions. These were administered to the focus
groups, the researcher asked a question on the questionnaire to the group and they have to respond.
Points that were taken into consideration, when planning a questionnaire tried to abide to the
standards set by Leedy (1985:143) and they are:

(1) The language must be unmistakable clear.

Questionnaires should be able to fulfil a specific research objective.
Be courteous - a request beginning will oil the wheel of cooperation.
Simplify, make the instrument as simple to and to respond as possible.
Think of the other person; put youi -self in the place of the respondent.
Concentrate on the universal rather than to specifics.
Makes it brief: the questionnaires should be as brief as possible and should solicit only
those data essential to the research project.
Check for consistency.

The researcher recorded all the responses instead of respondents writing their answers.
Questionnaires were only used to guide the respondents. However, their answers were taped on
a Dictaphone. This view is supported by Baker (1994:188) when he states that, "Face to face
interviews involves having one person address a question to another and the spoken responses are
then recorded by the interviewer. "This is also echoed by Alreck and Settle (1995:404) when the
state that". The most simple and inexpensive method of recording focus group sessions is merely
to record them on audio tape cassettes; often only one microphone is needed. It and the recording
equipment should be as inconspicuous as possible, so that it does not inhibit the responses of
participants especially those who are more shy and reserved or who holds "minority" opinions on
the issues.

28
The questionnaire was drafted and was then submitted to the study leader for checking it was only
administered after permission from the study leader was granted.

3.5 LITERATURE SURVEY

This study is aimed at implementing a need assessment in an informal settlement in KwaZulu-

Natal; therefore the author is to discuss more about this in the next section. This section is
explaining a model on need assessment. This model forms part of the research methodology.
This is the model that was followed by the researcher in conducting the need assessment. This
study is based on implementing a need assessment in an informal settlement in KwaZulu—Natal;
therefore the author is to discuss more about this in the next section.

3.5.1 Three-phase model for assessing needs

This method was made popular by Witkin & Altschuld (1995:19). It consists of three phases, the
pre assessment phase, the assessment phase and the post assessment phase. The authors see all
stages as important in need assessment.

3.5.1.1 Phase 1: Pre assessment phase

This phase is known as a pre assessment phase, it is exploratory in its function. It determines what
is already known about needs in the system, and identifies issues and major areas of concern. It
also decides on system boundaries, focus and purposes of needs assessment, potential sources of
data, how the information will be used and what kinds of decisions will be made on the basis of
the findings (Watkins & Altschuld, 1995:20).

29
The functions of the post assessment phase are listed as:

To set up planning and management groups, define obligation of all parties, and develop group
ownership of the needs assessment process and outcomes. After the needs assessment was
conducted the researcher contracted with the communities as to how the needs identified could
be address and the different roles that will be played in the addressing of needs.
To conduct a preliminary investigation of what is known about the need. The researcher had
to confirm with the community whether the needs identified tally with those known by the
community members.
To identify the purpose and scope of the needs assessment, to set the focus and to clarify
potential uses of the needs assessment findings. This was the first task that the researcher
undertook. It was essential because community members wanted to know potential benefit
to them when participating in the study.
To devise and obtain approval for a preliminary plan for phases Two and Three, including
target dates, times and budget with contingency clauses permitting modification as more
information is gathered. In the study this meant that the researcher had to go through the right
channels in the community and with the permission of the leadership identify possible subjects
for the sample, and also request permission to move around in the community.
To deal with relevant matters in the political context of the organisation, institution, or agency
desiring the needs assessment.
To build in procedures to ensure use of the findings in phase three in terms of commitment
by management to implement on action plan. In many instances researchers come to
communities, with an intention to collect data and make promises of helping the communities
that they never fulfil, resulting in people losing trust and antagonistic towards the researchers.
Because of this the researcher was careful in the study to give promises that can be fulfilled
and that can be implemented by the community members themselves.

30
3.5.1.2 Phase 2: Assessment phase

This is known as the main assessment or the actual data-gathering phase. The task of the
assessment phase is to document the status, the "what is" of the issues, to compare the status with
the vision of "what should be" and to determine the magnitude of the needs and their causes. The
major output from phase two is a set of need statement with their order of priority based criticality
of the need, and their causes (Witkin & Altschuld, 1995:40).

3.5.1.2.1 Sources of data

Data for needs assessment are of two general kind opinions and facts: By facts, we mean
statements that can be verified independently of the views or previous conceptions of individuals.

3.5.1.2.2 Method of gathering data

■

Witkins & Alschuld (1995:47) defined three methods of data sources in needs assessment is
archival, communication processes, and analytic processes.

Archival material refers to data that have already been gathered for other purposes such as social
indicators, organisational or agency records, demographic data, census data, results of educational
assessment and program evaluation reports. Archival material is useful in establishing past and
present conditions related to need areas or issues the "what is" dimension.

Communication processes use methods for seeking information directly from rather than from
examination of records. They are used to solicit opinions about issues and need areas or to get
information about which respondents have direct knowledge. There are two kinds of
communication process non-interactive and interactive. In non-interactive process, data are
conveyed from individual respondents to the needs assessor or interviewer with little or no
personal interaction.

31
3.5.1.3 Phase 3: Post assessment phase

This phase is a bridge from analyses to action. This phase has five major tasks which according
to within Witkin & Altschuld, (1995:76-79) are:

3.5.1.3.1 Set priorities on needs

The assessment clarification and preliminary prioritisation occurred in phase two. Now it is time
for the need assessor to set more rigorous priorities on needs. More in-depth criteria for
determining which needs should be addressed is first established, then needs are placed in order,
determining which one merits immediate action and which should be part of a longer-term plan.

3.5.1.3.2 Factors that influence priorities

The magnitude of discrepancies between current and target statistics. If there is a high
inconsistency between current and target statistics there is a need to attend to those needs first.
Causes and contributing factors to the needs. It is easy to attend to the needs whose causes
are understood.
The degree of difficulty in addressing the needs. The easier it is to address the need the easier
it is to put the need high on the priority list.
The effect on other parts of the system or other need if a specific need is or not met. It is
important to address the need that id not met it affects the functioning of other systems, e.g.
if the absence of water in the community results in the rise in the incidence of diseases. This
then should be addressed first.
The costs of implementing solutions. 'Cheaper solutions are easier to implement than costly
ones.
Political and other factors that might affect efforts to solve the need including community
values, local and national priorities and public expectations. KwaZulu-Natal is a highly
politicised province, which sometimes hamper the development of some areas, therefore when

32
 addressing the needs in the province one is tempted to address the needs of areas with little
political violence.

3.5.1.3.3 Select solution strategies

According to Witkin & Altschuld (1995:86), criteria or standards for judging the merits of
alternative solution strategies are considered a minimum proposals should meet criteria of
feasibility, acceptability and effect on the causes. According to Witkin & Altschuld(1995:78),
In selecting solution strategies certain steps should be undertaken and these are:

Set criteria for solutions. Since solutions involve community participation. The solutions goes
with criteria that will be used together with communities in solving a particular need.
Consider alternative solutions. Before any solution is acted on alternative solutions are looked
into, bearing in mind the costs and the resources needed in each solution.
Evaluate alternatives. This is done in order to determine which alternative will yield
maximum results. That is sustainable.
Select one or more solutions. There is always a plan B for in case plan A do dot work out.

3.5.1.3.4 Propose an action plan

According to Witkin & Altschuld (1995:87), the need assessor acts as an advisor to decision
makers regarding an action plan to guide installation and implementation of one or more solutions.
The plan should include descriptions of the solutions, rationale, proposed timelines, human and
physical resources required, and an estimated budget. In community development the emphasis
on action plans is to always involve the community and the action to be community driven since
it is for their own benefit.

33
3.5.1.3.5 Evaluate the quality of the need assessment

In evaluating the quality of the needs assessment, questions should be asked e.g. how well did the
need assessment meet its goal? What were the strengths, what problems were encountered? If
the system were to hold a similar needs assessment in the future, what changes in methods or other
factors would you recommend? Were there some unexpected results (Witkin & Altschuld,
1995:87)? The evaluation of an assessment is done in order to ascertain whether the right
procedures were followed and the needs identified can be taken as legitimate, and the assessment
was not influenced by the researcher bias.

3.5.1.3.6 Prepare reports and briefings

At the end of the need assessment, the need assessor finally reports to decision-makers and
policymakers to communicate the results of the need assessment. They include the salient features
of the need assessment plan, the major outcomes, priorities and their criteria, the action plan with
the criteria used to arrive at solution strategies, and recommendations for future need assessment
based on evaluations. The giving of reports should also be done to the wider community and
communities should be given a chance to comment on the findings. This is the process that was
followed in this study.

After data was collected and reports given and written there was a need to analyse data and do the
literature control.

3.6 RELIABILITY OF THE RESEARCH DATA

Reliability refers to the likelihood that a given measurement will yield the same description of a
given phenomenon if that measurement is repeated (Babbie, 1995:129).

34
3.6.1 Reasons for error

A certain amount of error in the data is inevitable. Generally the major causes of such errors are:

Sampling techniques.
Size of sample.
Errors resulting from the form of the questionnaire.
Errors resulting from misunderstanding of questions.
Errors resulting from incorrect translating, punching, typing, and other aspects of data
processing.
Active deception on the part of respondents.
Passive deception on the part of the respondents (Due to lack of accurate knowledge).

Errors of types 1-4 can be minimised through proper scientific care, while errors of types 5-7 are
inherent to the research method itself.

3.6.2 Publicity and community suspicion

Prior to each focus group interview being conducted, all the relevant people were consulted e.g.
community leaders, community members and even social work organisations. They were
encouraged to participate, in this study. However in spite of this, it was anticipated that a high
level of community suspicion would be encountered, given the economic, social and political
conditions prevailing at the time of the survey. In an attempt to minimise active deception,
respondents were assured of their anonymity, and the researcher carefully explained the purpose
of the survey to them.

35
3.7 DATA ANALYSIS

After data have been collected and formulated, there is a need to analyse data in order to arrive
at findings and conclusions. In this study data collected was transcribed from a cassette to paper.
Interviews were conducted in the indigenous language of the group (Zulu). Data has to be
translated into English and then analysed by means of content analysis.

Content analysis refers to a process where interviews, field notes, and other unobstructive data are
made amenable to analysis by condensing and making systematically comparable the information
they convey. An objective coding system must be applied to the notes or data (Berg: 1995:174).

Baker (1994:276) also defines content analysis as, an analysis of the content of communication.
Ole Hosti (1969) in Baker (1994:276-277) state that there are three common requirements for
content analysis requirements and they are:

Content analysis is objective, it "stipulates that each step in the research process must be
carried out on the basis of explicitly formulated rules and procedures". The researcher needs
to develop objective categories for coding data, which represents objective decisions about
this content and not the researcher's subjective ways of seeing material.
Content analysis must be systematic. This means that contents which fails to support the
researchers hypothesis must not be left out; categories for data coding must be applied
consistently.
Content analysis must possess generality, which "requires that the findings must have
theoretical relevance".

When analysing data from the interviews conducted, the researcher followed the following data
analysis protocol:

36
 The researcher made a conscious effort to ignore all the pre-conceived ideas about the study
for the highest form of reliability when analysing data in the study.
After reading the transcripts the researcher the underlined important words and phrases in
order to identify information relevant to the study.
A distinction was made between relevant and irrelevant information. A data analysis schedule
was drafted. (Appendix A)
Relevant information from all the transcripts was tabled in a list (See appendix A).
Categories were and subcategories were identified.
Links were made between categories.
Themes were then formulated from the links.

The following pitfalls by Howard Kahane as quoted by "Rubin & Babbie (1989:356), usually
occur in drawing conclusions and in this study an extra effort was made to avoid them they are:

Provincialism: This refers to a situation when the field researcher interprets people
behavior so that it makes sense from the researcher point of view. -The researcher made
a point to look at the conclusions from different points in order to be sure of their
authenticity.
Hasty conclusions: This means "weighting" of evidence leading to an interpretation. This
is done to check whether conclusion is essentially inevitable given the data lying behind
it or are other conclusions just as reasonable.
Questionable cause: Whenever it seems to you that X caused Y, ask yourself if that
necessarily is the case what else could have caused Y.
Suppressed evidence: Take note of any of your observations as well as observations that
do not figure in conclusions, as well as observations not mentioned that you can assume
were made.
False dilemma research conclusions, like nonscientific opinions, often represent the
selection of one position from among alternatives. Selecting one often seems to rule out
all others, this need not be the case. Be wary of this pitfall in reading the works of others,
but also be wary of falling into it yourself.

37
3.8 SUMMARY

This is a qualitative study using the descriptive research method. Sampling was done through the
purposive sampling. Data was collected through focus groups. Analysis was done through
content analysis, data was coded and themes formulated to facilitate the analysis.

38
 CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS

4.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter is aimed at reporting on the focus group interviews that were conducted. It also
aims at analysing data in order to arrive at findings and reach conclusions about the
implementation of a needs assessment in an informal settlement.

4.2 COMPILATION OF THE QUESTIONNARE

The researcher compiled one questionnaire that was administered to three focus groups. Focus
groups comprised of community workers, social workers and community leaders.

4.3 IDENTIFYING DETAILS.

The respondents were all involved in community work with the informal settlements, in
KwaZulu-Natal. Seven respondents were male and four females. This is a shift to a popular
belief that most people involved with community development are females. However, all the
respondents from the social work focus group were female. This finding exemplify the
findings of the study by Lund and Varte (1981) which states that "often with social work one
find an acute shortage of male social workers".

4.4 A REPORT ON ANALYSIS

Collected data is manipulated for the purpose of drawing conclusions that reflect on the
interests, ideas and theories that initiated the inquiry. (Babbie, 1995:104). Data analysis in
this study was conducted in terms of content analysis. The researcher followed the analysis
protocol that was discussed in Chapter three.

Content analysis was chosen because of its relevance to the type of research that was
undertaken (qualitative survey) and also because of the data collection method that was used

38
(taped interviews). The strengths of this type of analysis outshine its weaknesses, by far and
they are:

Its economy in terms of both time and money.

Safety. In content analysis, it is usually easier to repeat a section of the study then for
other research method. This was the case in one focus group session where the
researcher has to repeat the session after discovering that the tape recorder has not
recorded responses. '
Content analysis permits you to study processes occurring over long period time.
Content analysis is unobstructive. That is the content analyst seldom has any effect on
the subject being studied. This advantage is not present in all research methods.

The disadvantages of content analysis are that it is limited to recorded communications.

(Babbie: 1995:320).

4.4.1 Coding

According to Babbie (1995:335) coding refers to the process of transforming raw data-either
manifest or latent content into standardised, quantitative form: The concreteness of material
studied in content analysis strengthens the likelihood of reliability. Coding in content analysis
involves the logic of conceptualisation and operationalisation. Conceptualisation and
operationalisation involves the interaction of theoretical concerns to and empirical
observations (Babbie, 1995:312).

The coding procedure that was followed in the study was:

Notes were reviewed carefully, coding each member comment.

Coding scheme was developed based on responses.
Each response was fitted into a category (see annexure C).
The whole procedure was discussed with the study leader to obtain verification of
own reliability.

39
(e) The researcher coded, recorded and even recorded again, to make certain that the
coding is consistent. In this study both inductive and deductive methods were used.

4.4.2 Categorizing

The following categories were identified for the analysis schedule: The researcher decided on
the following categories guided by the questionnaire and the information that the researcher
wanted to gain.

Reason for informal settlements.

Needs/Problems.
Possible solutions.
Suggestions on intervening professionals.
Tools for assessment.
Possible problems.

The above categories were discussed in details under the subheading to follow (See paragraph
4.6).

At this stage the report on the findings and the literature check are made. Findings and
literature check are integrated with the discussions of the categories.

4.4.3 Central themes

After categories were identified, the following links emerged.

Informal settlements are a result of a need for accommodation.

Political violence in KwaZulu-Natal contributed to the formation of informal
settlements.
Poverty is a result of migration from rural area.

40
 Informal settlements do not have any street identification therefore criminal easily
hides there.
Unemployment in informal settlements is high leading to apathy.
Social problems like truanting and child abuse is rife in informal settlements.
People have a shortage of skills and unemployment is high.
Evictions resulted in people starting informal settlements.
There is a great need for the government to intervene in solving social problems.
Community developers'need to facilitate problem solving.
Political violence results in unstable political situation.
Alienation is one of the problems in informal settlements.
Professionals must encourage community involvement when working in the
community.
Community involvement is a possible solution to apathy and alienation.
Community development officers with facilitation skills can play a major role in
solving problems in informal settlements.
Partnership between the government and the non-governmental are encouraged.
Recommended tools for need assessment are interviews, public meeting and
streetwalking.
Participatory rural appraisal is encouraged when workini in communities.
Institutional barriers are sometimes a problem when implementing a need assessment.

4.5 VALIDATION METHODS

Literature control
Triangulation

Babbie (1995:129) state that "Validity refers to the extent which a specific measurement
provide data that relate to commonly accepted meanings of a particular concept". The study is
valid in terms of external validity. External validity refers to the extent to which we can
generalise the findings of the study to the settings and population beyond the study conditions
(Rubin & Babbie, 1989:247).

41
In this study the researcher ensured that maximum sample in each population is representative
of the entire population. The setting from which the sample was chosen and interviewed was
appropriate. The procedure was conducive for participants to be involved and comfortable to
air their views. The problem of reactivity was minimised by informing the sample that,
interviews were conducted for study purposes and therefore they are urged to be truthful in
their discussions.

Rubin & Babbie (1989:249) explains reactivity in external validity as the factor that occurs
when clients know that they are participating in an experiment, and such awareness make
changes in the dependent variable that cannot be generalised outside of the experiment
situation, e.g. exaggerating facts.

4.5.1 Literature control of the findings

4.5.1.1 Reasons for informal settlements

Haaroff in Bailey (1995:1) identifies three key elements in the history of lack migration in the
KwaZulu-Natal region as being the conflicts over land, the demand for a labour supply and the
apartheid policies. The respondents gave the reason for the formation of informal settlements
as follows:

The need for accommodation. In a study conducted by Bailey (1995:2) similar results
were achieved and the researcher stated that "interviews with the shack dwellers in shacks
adjacent to the existing townships indicate that most of these people come from the
townships where they were unable to secure housing".
Political violence was also given by respondents as a reason why informal settlements
originate.
Respondents also gave migration from rural areas: as a reason for informal settlements.
This is in support of the statement by Bailey (1995:2) which states that "the mushrooming

42
 of squatter settlements can be seen to be the results of rural-urban migration and of the
natural increase in population in both rural and urban informal settlements".
Other respondents reported that informal settlements originate as a result of people
running away from criminal records and building shacks, which suit them since informal
settlements, do not have any street identification.
Other respondents gave unemployment, as a causal factor in informal settlements since,
people cannot afford decent housing.
Other respondents also blained evictions as a cause of informal settlements.

4.5.1.2 Identification of Needs/Problems

The following needs and the respondents listed problems in informal settlements.

Strong building was one of the major needs of the respondents. Bailey (1995:2) in a
comment about informal settlement supports this statement by stating that "the material
used to construct houses were of mud, cardboard, plank and tarpaulin. There were no
brick houses and residents were deterred from constructing 'permanent houses' because of
the previous bulldozing of the houses by the authorities". Kok & Motlock, (1992:168) add
to this by claiming that "structurally shelters should offer physical protection from the
elements and they should be functional and provide living space and warmth".
Schools and the adult education center, was also identified as a need by the respondents.
Bailey (1995:4) in her study revealed that 88% of the households in informal settlements
had children of school going ages. There were no schools in the settlement and the
majority of children attended local schools. It was also indicated in that study that, the
illiteracy rate of adults was 56%.
Poverty was also reported by respondents as rife in the informal settlements.
The respondents of the study reported that there were no amenities such as toilets, and
water and clinics, this supports the findings of Bailey (1995:5) that "there was no portable
water available to the residents and this presented a serious health problem for the
residents and in emergencies, no medical services were likely to be available to the
residents".

43
Housing was found to be an urgent need by the respondents. Bailey (1995:4) conducted a
similar study on housing and discovered that "the majority of homes had one room and
often residents were expected to accommodate new arrivals to the settlement".
Residents reported employment as high. In a study by Bailey (1995):3 an observation
made was. "Many of the residents had attempted to find work and had not been
successful". This reflected in part their lack of skills, illiteracy, and inability to
communicate in the two common spoken languages in the area- English and Afrikaans.
The respondents in the stddy also stated that lack of skills in the settlements is one of the
problems that hamper development.
Apathy was also reported as a major problem for the residents of the informal settlements.
Lund and Van Harte (1981:63) emphasized that "communities who have been disrupted
along racial lines or other reasons often experience apathy". This related to McKendrick
and Hoffman's (1990) point of violence breading fear and retention.
Social problems such as truanting and child abuse were also reported as rife.
Respondents reported the absence of services in the informal settlement. This statement
by Haaroff (1993:1) also supports this phenomenon; "squatters settlements and
shantytowns have become synonymous with rapid urbanisation and urban growth in the
third world cities. They represent a surprising number of common characteristics, they
provide shelter to the poor, occupy land of low value, often (but not always) have
peripheral locations, are physically dominated by poor -quality dwellings, are developed
spontaneously and generally lack the services and facilities normally available elsewhere
in the city".
The respondents gave one of the problems in the informal settlements as no street
identification, which often results in the settlements being a haven for criminals.
The respondents also reported that people feel alienated in informal settlements and this is
because everybody moved from somewhere else.

44
4.5.1.3 Possible solutions

Possible solution to problems in informal settlements were given by the respondents were
given as:

Building strong structures.

One of the possible solutions to the problems in informal settlements as given by
respondents is that the goVernment needs to implement a need assessment. This is in
support of the statement by the former Housing Affairs minister David Curry (Financial
Mail 1991) where he stated that "A national policy on informal settlements is needed, local
authorities should be primarily responsible for ensuring the availability of housing
opportunities in their areas and the state to provide financial assistance to lower-income
groups".
Some respondents reported that the solution for problems is for community development
officers to facilitate problem solving: The importance of community initiative and
participation is enshrined within the RDP. Bekker and Louw (1994:96) recognises that
community participation is an important instrument for strengthening community capacity,
promoting credibility and for laying the groundwork for partnership and shifting the locus
of power from local power structures to the community.
Other respondent gave the solution as for people to get land. This is also supported by
The Former President Mr. De Klerk as quoted by the Financial Mail (1991) where he
states that "Governments role, includes the identification and provision of land for
resettlement, and assistance to people who could not provide their own housing".
Community involvement and participation was given by the respondents as one of the
solutions. Bailey (1995) states that "the importance of community participation and
initiative is enshrined within the RDP". Bekker and Louw (1994:96) recognise that
community participation is an important instrument for strengthening community capacity,
promoting credibility and for laying the groundwork for partnership and shifting the locus
of power from local power structures to the community.

45
In addressing the possible solutions to problems in informal settlements, McKendrick and
Senoamadi (1993:220) state that "on the administrative and developmental level, social policy
need to be comprehensive recast in acknowledgement of the fact that these settlements are
permanent and they are likely to increase in number and size". It is therefore vital that:

The government accepts informal settlements as a form of low income housing;

Settlements be provided with rudimental health facilities, such as clean water, sanitation,
sewage, electricity; and •
A regional economic policy aimed at setting the conditions for a long-term economic
revival are put into place. This strategy should deal with opportunities for employment
outside of the settlement and income-generating activities in the informal settlements".

4.5.1.4 Suggestion on intervening professionals

The answers that were given by the respondents as to which profession they see as ideal in
working in the community are:

The government officials.

Non-governmental organisations.
Partnership between government and the NGO's. This is exemplifying Sew Paul's (1992)
call for multidisciplinary work, Rothmund and Kela (1992) highlighted that community
workers need to understand networking and closely relate to other professionals active in
the field of community work.
Anyone interested.
Anyone with facilitation skills.
Community development officers with facilitation skills.
Anyone who can encourage community involvement.

46
4.5.1.5 Recommended tools for assessment

Recommended tools for further assessment were given by respondents as:

Interviews.
Public Meetings.
Streetwalking.
A combination of tools.
Participatory rural appraisal. This exemplify Lund and Van Flute (1991) statement that
workers need to do as much participatory action research in the area before entering the
community to ensure that any community work is based on felt needs.

4.5.1.6 Problems in need assessment

Possible problems that might be encountered when implementing a needs assessment, are
given by the respondents as:

Institutional barriers. Respondents stated that this institutional barrier is often caused by
leadership structures that are not clear in the community. Rothmund and Kela (1992:71)
confirmed this and stated that "where structures are present they are usually temporary".
No participation by the community.
Unstable political situation. This exemplifies literature which highlights, violence as rife
in many informal settlements. In a study conducted by Bennett (1995:65) respondents
highlighted that violence and political factors hindered their entry into informal
settlements. Cock (1990) estimates that 3500 people have died in violence in informal
settlements between 1984 and 1989.
Exaggeration of needs by the community.
The respondents also stated that problems are also encountered if right channels are not
followed when entering the community.

47
4.5.2 Triangulation

In field research, there is a special need for multiple types of evidence gathered from different
sources, often using different data collection methods, this is known as triangulation (Baker,
1994:244). It is a strategy of casting out broadly for diverse evidence so as to more effectively
focus on the study question at hand.

In this study the researcher gathered evidence and material from multiple sources in order to
address the question at hand from different points of view. Ultimately the researcher
narrowed down and focused on the subject. Triangulation was done to determine which
explanations are accurate and which ones should be rejected. The researcher used focus
groups audiocassettes and field notes in order to enhance validation.

4.6 SUMMARY

The information which had been collected through this survey showed that the basic human
needs of the residents remained largely unmet and that the facilities and services which were
available to meet these needs are were either inadequate or situated too far from the settlement
to be optimally utilised by squatters. It also spells clear the importance of networking within
organisations and the importance of using a variety of tools to assess the needs of the
community.

48
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Aitken, M. & Mott, P.E. The Structure of Community Power. Random House.

Aldrich, B.C. & Sandhu, R.S. (1995). Housing the Urban Poor, Policy and
Practice in Developing Countries. Zed Books.

Alreck, P.L. & Settle, R.B. (1995). The Survey Research Handbook. (2 nd Ed)
Irwin.

Babbie, E. (1995). The Practice of Social Research. Wadsworth.

Bailey, C.A.D. (1997). Methods of Social Research. The Free Press.

Baker, L.A.D. (1994. Doing Social Research. McGraw Hill.

Bell, R.A., Sundell, M., Aponte, J.F., Murrell, S.A. & Lin, E. (1983). Assessing
Health and Human Services Needs Concepts, Methods and
Applications. Human Sciences Press, Inc.

Berg, B.L. (1995). Qualitative Research Method for Social Science. (2 nd Ed.)
Allyn and Bacon.

De Vos, A.S. (1998). Research at Grassroots, The Premier for Caring

Professionals. Van Schalkwyk.
Emmett, T. (1992). Squatting in the Hottentots Holland Basin, Perspectives on
a South African Social Issue. Human Sciences Research Council.

Hawtins, M., Hughes, G. & Percy-Smith, T. (1995). Community

Profiling, Audit social Needs. Open University Press.

Hindson, D. & McCarthy, J. (1994). Here to Stay, Informal Settlements in

KwaZulu-Natal. Indicator Press.

Homer, F. (1980). Towards a Theory of Community Work. Juta.

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Leedy, P.D. (1985). Practical Research, Planning and Design. (4 th Ed).
Macmillan.

Lombard, A. (1994). Community Work and Community Development,

Perspectives on Social Development. Haum.

Louw, A .& Bekker , S. (1996). Cities under siege:Urban violence in South,

Central & West Africa. Indicator press

Lund, J. (1987). The Community Based Approach to Development. A

Description and Analysis of Two Health Projects.

Lund ,F.J & Van Harte E.L (1981). Community work for development and
change:Discussions with South African community workers. Kompen .

Macmillan, J.H. & Schumacher, S. (1993). Research in Education, A

Conceptual Introduction. (3rd Ed). Harper & Collins.

Mouton, J. & Marais, H.C. Basic Concepts in the Methodology of the Social
Sciences. Human Sciences Research Council.
Portney, L.G. & Walking, M.P.G. (1993). Foundations of Clinical Research,
Application to Practice. Appleton and Delange.

Potter, R.B. & Salau, A.T. (1990). Cities and Development in the Third World.
Mansell.

Rubin, A. & Babbie, E. Research Methods in Social Work. Wadsworth

Publishing.

Spies, P.H. (1986). Perspectives of the Future of KwaZulu-Natal. Institute for

Future Research, University of Stellenbosch.

Sredl, H.J. (1992). Needs Assessment, Coursebook and Workshop. First June.

Upsher, C.C. (1982). How to Set up and Operate a Non-profit

Organisation. Prentice Hall.

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 Wates, N. & Wolmar, C. (1980). Squatting, The Real Story. Blackrose Press.

Witkin, B.R. & Alschuld, J.W. (1995). Planning and Conducting Needs
Assessment, A Practical Guide. Sage.

Witkin, B.R. & Alschuld, J.W. (1995). Planning and Conducting Needs
Assessments. Sage Publications.

JOURNALS/ARTICLES

30 Bailey,L.R.(1995).Socio-Economic survey of squatter settlements in Durban: a

challemge for the transformation process. University of Durban-Westville.

31 Basic Needs in Rural Areas. A Report on a Seminar held in Cape Town on 19

February 1985. S.A. National Scientific Programmes, 116.

32. Bennet, T. (1993) The Role of a Social Worker in Entering the Community, with
Specific Reference to an Informal Settlement. Unpublished Dissertation. (University of
Natal).

33 Boarden, B.G. (1994). The Imijondolo A Study of the Shack Housing Delivery
System in Metropolitan Durban.

34 Gray, M.M.A. The Importance of Community Development. Social

Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 1996:32(3) pg. 193.

35 Madlopa, F.B. (1993). An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Group Work with

HIV Positive/AIDS Patients. Unpublished Thesis (UDW).

36 May, J., May, C., Newton, C., Persad, T., & Stavrou, A. (1994). A Situational
Analysis of Electricity and Water to Informal Settlements in Natal and KwaZulu.
Durban.

56
37 Perkins, D.W. (1988). Income and Non-income Indicators of Spatial Differentials
in Access to Basic Needs in KwaZulu. Unpublished Thesis, University of Natal.

38 South Africa in Transition. Urban and Rural Perspectives on

Squatting and Informal Settlements in Environmental Context. A
collection of papers delivered at a conference in Pretoria on 26 June 1992.
UNISA.

39 What is happening in Cato Manor? (1989). Urban Press, Durban.

,
40 White Paper for Social Welfare, Principles Guidelines,
Recommendations, Proposed Policies and Programmes for
Developmental Social Welfare in South Africa. February 1997.
Government Press.

57
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 APPENDIX B

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE

TITLE: THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SOCIAL WORK NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN

A SQUATTER SETTLEMENT IN KWAZULU-NATAL

FOCUS GROUP'S IDENTIFYING DETAILS

Agencies/organisations:

Field of service:

INFORMATION ABOUT INVOLVEMENT IN THE INFORMAL SETTLEMENT:

How did this informal settlement start?

Why did you start working in the settlement?

.7 How long have you worked in this settlement?

INFORMATION ABOUT NEEDS IN AN INFORMAL SETTLEMENT:

61
 What are the major needs of this community?

According to your opinion, how can they successfully be met?

Which profession do you see as ideal to render services, in this community, and why?

11. What problems do you foresee in implementing needs assessment in this community?

12. If you were to conduct a need assessment would you use any of these, if so why and
how would you see them?

62
12.1 Street walking.

12.2 Interviews.

12.3 Survey.

12.4 Observation.

12.5 Petition (around the issue).

12.6 Public meeting (around an issue).

12.4 Videos (around that issue).

12.5 Other, Specify

63
 /

THE NEEDS OF A SQUATTER SETTLEMENT

IN KWAZULU- NATAL

ACQUINATTE SIBONGILE NGOBESE