Beneficiaries' Role in Averting Quality Challenges in Government Social Housing Construction

Abstract

Upon assuming office in 1994, the South African government began constructing social housing for the less privileged to improve their socioeconomic living standards. However, one of the primary factors behind the rising unhappiness with government-constructed social housing is the beneficiaries' lack of involvement. The study sought to identify beneficiaries' role in averting quality challenges in government social housing construction. A qualitative approach using random sampling was used to interview construction professionals with experience constructing government social housing. Online interviews were conducted with 29 participants, and the data were analyzed using a thematic content analysis method to generate themes and subthemes. The results indicate that to avert quality challenges in government-constructed social housing, the beneficiaries have a considerable role in the planning, construction, and postconstruction phases of the project implementation. Beneficiaries must be provided with the necessary documentation, prevent political interference, participate in the construction process, monitor progress, and train to maintain the houses after construction. The lack of participation of beneficiaries in government-constructed social housing leads to new housing construction with subpar quality standards, leading to the dissatisfaction of beneficiaries and the waste of public funds. There is a need to institute measures to enhance the beneficiaries' participation in the project implementation process to achieve the desired outcome. This study indicates how beneficiaries can partake in the development process of government-constructed social housing. The findings will enable beneficiaries to participate in ensuring satisfactory constructed social housing.