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The word 'Township' is used in South Africa to indicate large high density suburbs built by the government to house poorer and black South Africans. Initially built by the 'Apartheid' government to house black workers, they are still being extended by the current government to deal with the huge demand for formal housing in the country.
In general the houses are separate, in their own garden area, but very small. Typically they have two to four rooms and are about the size of a two car garage. The fittings are rudimentary. Steel frame windows, metal doors and no ceilings under a corrugated iron or fibre-cement sheet roof. Indoor water and sanitation (toilets) are sometimes provided, but in many cases the only water is a public tap in the street shared by many families.
Most townships now have electricity provided to the houses, if the house owners can afford the initial connection fees. Electricity is often subsidized, with an initial essential amount (lifeline tariff) being provided for free.
Townships attract many poor people who are not so fortunate as to own a state built house. These people are accommodated in backyard shacks behind the state built houses, and the house owners earn rental money from the shack residents.
The state houses are allocated on a first-come, first served basis, except in emergencies. The waiting period can be long, sometimes 15 years, as the population grows faster through births, urbanization and Immigration than the new houses are built.
Foreigners, eg. legally resident refugees from Zimbabwe, Congo, Somalia, and illegally resident 'undocumented migrants' from Mozambique, Angola, Malawi are never allocated state houses so have to live in shacks.
Some shack dwellers have been known to create emergencies, for example by burning down their shacks, to advance their place on the allocation list.
South African townships represent the proportionally largest state funded housing scheme outside of the old USSR. The quality of the houses is not high, but the quantity provided cannot be faulted.
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∙ 12y ago
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∙ 13y agoWiki User
∙ 11y agoThe Northern Cape, 372,889 square kilometers
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∙ 12y agobotshabelo, near bloemfontein
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∙ 12y agoNorthern Cape
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What is the biggest province in South Africa?
The Northern Cape is the largest with just over 30% of the land area of South Africa
Where is Johannesburg?
Johannesburg is a city in the Republic of South Africa.North east of central South Africa
What is the largest country in South Africa?
The largest country in Africa is Algeria, which is 2,381,741 km^2. [10th in the world] (South Sudan declared independence from Sudan on July 9,2011 and "demoted" Sudan to the 3rd largest African nation[16th in the world], Democratic Republic of the Congo now being the second largest. [11th in the world])
Where is the Mala Mala Game Reserve located?
The Mala Mala Game Reserve is the 5th largest private game reserve in South Africa. The Mala Mala Game Reserve is located in Mpumalanga province of South Africa.
Start with e South Africa?
Eastern Cape is a province in South Africa. It begins with the letter E.
The province in South Africa with the largest population?
Gauteng province have the largest population in South Africa
What province contains South Africa's largest cluster of Asians?
Natal Province
What is the largest country in south?
South Africa is a Country!!! The Northern Cape is the biggest province in South Africa
Which is the province the occupies the largest land in SA?
To restate your question: What is the province that has the largest land mass in South Africa? Answer: Northern Cape.
What is the biggest province in South Africa?
The Northern Cape is the largest with just over 30% of the land area of South Africa
Where is Johannesburg?
Johannesburg is a city in the Republic of South Africa.North east of central South Africa
Is limpopo the southernmost province of South Africa?
No, the Limpopo is not the southernmost provice of South Africa. Limpopo is the nothernmost province of South Africa
What is the southernmost province in Africa?
The Western Cape Province of South Africa
Which is the largest province from the 9 provinces in south Africa?
The Northern Cape is by far the largest, totalling 361 830 square kilometres. Alone it takes up very close on 30% of South Africa's total land area.
Is mafikeng South Africa in the continent Africa?
Mafikeng is in the Northwest Province of South Africa. South Africa is a country in Africa.
What is the driest province in South Africa?
Northern Cape Province
What starts with the letter b in South Africa?
Bhisho is the capital city in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Bloemfontein is the capital city in Free State Province, South Africa. Ben Macdhui is a 9,846 foot mountain in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
