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Housing delivery in South Africa continues to dominate conversations on human rights and social development. Using a social development lens, this paper presents the findings of a qualitative study that aimed at exploring the housing experiences of social rental housing (SRH) beneficiaries and how this interlinked with human rights and social development in South Africa. Using the purposive sampling method, the study selected three social housing institutions (SHIs) in Gauteng and two in the Western Cape province. With each SHI, a focus group discussion was conducted with its tenants to establish if there are any linkages with human rights and social development. Participants shared positive sentiments relating to SRH. The authors of this article note that SRH is implemented from a rights-based perspective, in line with international law and the social development perspective. In concluding the article, the authors provide policy recommendations for government and civil society actors operating in the arena of SRH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal workers, such as day labourers, are frequently living in rampant poverty; exploited, with no place to go for protection; ill from not having access to clean water or basic social services; maimed, or worse, as there are no basic safety conditions at work; holding little or no hope that life can be better; struggling on a daily basis just to survive. The aim of this paper is to contextualise the relationship between day labouring, poverty and vulnerability. The research applied a case study research design. It involved day labourers from Mbekweni in the Western Cape Province at three hiring sites. It was found that the day labour market is mainly a catchment area for those who have lost their jobs in the formal economy, and who are unable to secure reemployment. Immigrants from the rest of Southern Africa also join this informal labour market, and compete with their South African counterparts for the available temporary employment on offer. The greatest vulnerability faced by day labourers is long periods of chronic unemployment and the infrequent hires and resultant unstable and low income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]