Abstract

PIP: This article summarizes key findings from a survey of access to facilities during 1994-95, among environmental health offices in Greater Metropolitan Cape Town, South Africa. The offices were situated in Parow, Goodwood, Elsies River, Constantia, Grassy Park, Durbanville, Atlantis, Bellville, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Belhar, Khanya, and Milnerton. Sampling was stratified by housing type (formal, unserviced shacks, site and service shacks, and shacks with communal facilities). Within the residential types, sampling was performed with cluster, random, and systematic sampling techniques to yield 7152 units. Information was obtained on access to drinking water, sanitation, and storm drainage; quality of housing; and demography. Findings indicate that 7% of the population (86,000 people) lived in shacks that did not have access to basic services. 2.9% of dwellings (8300) did not have access to water within 50 m. About 10% of dwellings lacked access to refuse removal services. All regions had some housing without access to refuse removal. 25% of units lacked a functioning stormwater drainage system. Lack of access to basic services was greatest in number/rate in the most populated regions of Khanya and Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch posed difficulties due to the dispersed population, and the location of dwellings on private property. 61% lived in formal housing, 12% lived in shacks with access to services, and 21% lived in informal housing. 74% of the unserviced shacks were in the Khanya area, and 25% were in the Stellenbosch area.