TY  - JOUR
T1  - Towards the Understanding and Demarcation of Informal Settlements
AU - Ikponmwosa David, Ighodaro AU - Busisiwe, Nkonki-Mandleni 
JO  - The Social Sciences
VL  - 14
IS  - 3
SP  - 116
EP  - 122
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1818-5800
DO  - sscience.2019.116.122
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=sscience.2019.116.122
KW  - Informal settlements
KW  -slums
KW  -shacks not in a backyard
KW  -poverty
KW  -potentially capable
KW  -aspects
AB  - In the literature there is currently a problem of definition and demarcation of informal settlements. The
goal of this communication is to suggest a best definition and demarcation for informal settlements. Through
a review of literature, the study suggests that when a study intends focusing on all characters of informal
settlements, including the overcrowding and extreme poverty aspects, the term ‘informal settlement’ or ‘informal
settlements and ‘slum’s may suffice. However, if basic characters are the focus, an operational definition should
be provided to avoid misunderstanding. Furthermore, the study suggests the proxy term ‘shacks not in a
backyard’, a term adopted by the Housing Development Agency of South Africa, even though not a perfect
one, is the closest criteria for the demarcation of informal settlements. This is believed to be potentially capable
of reducing the strain of demarcation especially useful for policy and developmental purposes.
ER  -