In November, Amnesty International South Africa launched its report Flooded and Forgotten: Informal Settlements and the Right to Housing in South Africa which examines the incidence and impact of floods, both large scale and seasonal caused by heavy rain, on residents of informal settlements and underserved areas in South Africa, particularly in Johannesburg, eThekwini, and Cape Town.

The launch was attended by more than 200 people, joining live in Johannesburg and through hubs in Durban and Cape Town, including many community members directly affected by the flooding.

More than 5 million people in South Africa live in informal settlements, where daily life is marked by deprivation and precarity. 

The lack of access to adequate, well-located affordable housing in South Africa has led to the growth of informal settlements in floodplains and low-lying areas which means that people living there are increasingly impacted by flooding. 

We’ve all seen the heartbreaking impact of these floods — on our TV screens, in the news, and across social media. But no image or story can truly capture what it’s like to live through it, as so many people have had to do.

Many people Amnesty International spoke to during this research expressed the fear they feel when it starts to rain. A woman who lives in Thembelihle informal settlement said: “I sleep with one eye open because of the water.”

Informal settlements represent the failure of the government to guarantee adequate and affordable housing to all. They are also the product of poverty and discrimination that exclude people from formal housing. 

There is little faith in the government, a government which is duty bound to provide services. 

Residents of informal settlements have been left to fend for themselves, often putting their lives at risk. Another woman from Freedom Park, in Johannesburg said:  “We have no help from anyone, we have to stay and fix it, we can’t run away… where will we go?”

During the launch, Amnesty International South Africa Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed thanked the communities and residents who, during the research, shared their personal stories.

“Your openness made it possible for us to tell this story with honesty and depth. Despite the many challenges you face, your strength, resilience, and sense of community continue to shine through. Many informal settlements have been around for decades and have provided shelter, opportunity and collective support to people living in poverty in cities. Despite the challenges – their worsening living conditions, neglect from the authorities, discrimination and stigmatisation – residents in these neighbourhoods have created spaces that foster strong social bonds, economic activity and thriving communities,” she said. 

Next year, South Africa heads to its seventh local government election since the dawn of democracy in 1994. There could not be a more crucial time to shine a light on the challenges facing communities and to demand accountability from those elected to serve them.

The launch of this report is only the beginning. Our work does not end here. Together, we must use our collective voices to ensure that the human rights of everyone living in informal settlements are respected and that all people can enjoy those rights in safe, healthy, and dignified conditions.

You can watch a recording of the launch here.