Coping with stormwater in a Johannesburg, South Africa informal settlement

Stormwater management, as part of urban infrastructure, is generally lacking or inadequate in informal settlements. Residents and community groups in informal settlements often take local initiatives, with or without external assistance, aimed at supplying the lack in infrastructure. Utilising a qualitative research strategy, this study considers self-help and community-based initiatives to cope with and manage stormwater in informal settlements, through the case of Slovo Park settlement in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study shows that household/stand-based strategies are minimally effective technically. Community-based initiatives forming part of the drive to catalyse in situ upgrading, although challenged by limitations, are imbued with potential. Enabling environment and appropriate buy-in from the state and relevant non-state agencies are necessary to exploit the potential inherent in the community-based approach.