PEP

PEP is a well established not-for-profit organisation (054-862-NPO) that has supported organised communities in informal settlements (slums) around South Africa since mid 1998. It was originally established to provide technical assistance to the South African Homeless People’s Federation and subsequently the Federation of the Urban Poor (FEDUP).

PEP’s work has since expanded into researching alternative technologies & cost saving approaches to affordable housing in South Africa. It has also been very active in providing technical training to various groups, the bulk being residents of informal settlements but also including local and provincial authorities who are active within the “people’s housing process”.

Approximately 8 years ago PEP embarked on a search for a solution to provide emergency but temporary shelters to victims of disasters eg fires and floods that constantly plague informal settlements. Although the provision of permanent housing has remained one of the main goals of PEP, it is one which is increasingly difficult to address satisfactorily. Adopting the approach that a “reasonable structure now is better than a permanent brick home in 5 or 10 years time”, PEP started conducting research into providing emergency shelters. The project rapidly expanded and has grown into an independent organisation known as Ikhayalami. The same concept is now also been used in Informal Settlement Upgrading around the country.

Following the shift of focus from emergency shelters, PEP has been focusing on both research and application of sustainable or “green” initiatives that are practical, affordable and maintainable within both formal and informal housing initiatives.

Considering that security of tenure is one of the biggest issues within the lives of people living in informal settlements, PEP has also been active in assisting communities to pursue the formalities required in rezoning, subdivision, land surveying, surveyor general, conveyancing etc. with the ultimate goal of achieving title to their portion of land.

PEP still enjoys a close working relationship with a variety of both national and international organisations involved in similar work. Staff members are regularly invited to international seminars & workshops to present their work. Recent trips include the following:

• June 2010
  ACHR (Asian Coalition of Housing Rights)
  ChengMai, Thailand
• September 2010
  SIDA (Swedish International Devleopment Agency)
  Lund University, Sweden
• February 2011
  SIDA
  Manilla, Philipines

In the local context, PEP enjoys ongoing working relationships with the following organisations:

• SDI Shack Dwellers International 
• uTshani Fund
• CORC Community Organisation Resource Centre
• ACHR Asian Coalition of Housing Rights
• SIDA Swedish International Development Agency
• Selavip