Housing experiences of refugees: Policy implications for South Africa

Abstract

Before 1993, the population of refugees in South Africa was negligible. The political stability since the transition to democracy in 1994 opened up the country to migrants from different parts of the world. This article discusses the housing experiences of refugees, both internationally and within a South African context, and introduces the assumption that the housing experiences of refugees in South Africa are different to those elsewhere. The article concludes that in as much as South Africa has its own housing crisis, this cannot be resolved in isolation to the housing problems of other groups within its cities. Hence, issues of refugee housing need to be integrated in South Africa's housing policy.

Africa Insight Vol. 36 (2) June 2006: 75-90