fullscreen

eFinder

eFinder

Home › Land Use and Informal Settlements › Article

Gauteng has more than 860,000 informal structures

Timeslive · · 500 words · By Herman Moloi
Land Use and Informal Settlements Urban Governance Technological Surveillance
headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing
Generate a natural audio summary of this story
Daily briefing

What to know about Land Use and Informal Settlements

There are now 1,158 informal settlements in Gauteng, a sharp rise of 707 compared to 2019, data from Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s office revealed on Sunday.

Claims checked 13
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center83%
Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

There are now 1,158 informal settlements in Gauteng, a sharp rise of 707 compared to 2019, data from Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s office revealed on Sunday.

Why it matters

The stats are contained in progress reports presented to Gauteng MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs Jacob Mamabolo and shows a growing trend of informal settlements across the province.

Common ground

The reports were presented during a local government turnaround event held in Sandton, Joburg, where various departments outlined progress on issues including governance, crime, sinkholes, land invasions and climate change.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/2026-05-24-gauteng-has-more-than-860000-informa…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 8
schedule Pending 3
check_circle Corroborated 1
cancel Disputed 1
schedule
Claim 1: “Emfuleni eight”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 2: “Tshwane is leading with 502 informal settlements”
CORROBORATED
The claim that Tshwane has 502 informal settlements is reported by the Sowetan and corroborated by multiple independent web search results (dated Feb/Mar 2026) discussing the R32.5bn challenge to upgrade 502 settlements.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Feb 27, 2026 ... Tshwane faces a staggering R32.5bn challenge to upgrade or relocate 502 informal settlements. With thousands of homes in need, the city says ...
https://www.facebook.com/IOLnews/posts/tshwane-faces-a-stagg…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Mar 1, 2026 ... Tshwane's MMC for Human Settlements Aaron Maluleka has hailed the move to approve informal settlements management policy as a significant ...
https://thestar.co.za/news/2026-03-01-a-projected-r325-billi…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Feb 27, 2026 ... City of Tshwane is embarking on a significant step towards managing the rapid proliferation of informal settlements across the municipality.
https://iol.co.za/business/property/2026-02-27-r325bn-needed…
+ 1 more evidence source
info
Claim 3: “Lesedi municipality has 83”
SINGLE SOURCE
The figure of 83 settlements for Lesedi municipality is only reported by the Sowetan cross-reference.
compare_arrows
cross reference SUPPORTS — Lesedi municipality has 83
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-24-gauteng-has-more-t…
info
Claim 4: “followed by Ekurhuleni with 151”
SINGLE SOURCE
The figure of 151 settlements for Ekurhuleni is only reported by the Sowetan. Other Ekurhuleni documents mention different numbers (e.g., 639 mapped) or different contexts, not confirming the 151 figure.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Aug 31, 2025 ... Poverty is most prevalent in townships, informal settlements, and peri-urban zones, where most poor households are found. These spatial and ...
https://www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Ann…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 12, 2023 ... 639 informal settlements have been mapped and enumerated and 163 ... 1 151,00. 1 500,00. 3 000,00. GERMISTON HIGH. SS 700160457 ES. Scope ...
https://www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/A-F…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 26, 2017 ... After years battling to get basic services, residents of L&J (Lloyd and Johan) an informal settlement near St Georges Hotel in Ekurhuleni, ...
https://elitshanews.org.za/2017/05/26/22-people-share-a-toil…
+ 1 more evidence source
schedule
Claim 5: “Celiwe Kgowedi from Lesufi’s office introduced the Smart City portal and its integrated system”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 6: “We started this project towards the end of 2024”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 7: “In 2019, 451 settlements were recorded”
SINGLE SOURCE
The figure of 451 settlements in 2019 is only reported by the Sowetan cross-reference. Other search results discuss the impact of COVID-19 on settlements but do not provide this specific 2019 count.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Sep 1, 2025 ... Our findings reveal that in the context of informal settlements in Gauteng, the pandemic undermined the government's commitment to Sustainable ...
https://journals.co.za/doi/10.53973/jopa.2025.60.3.1a7
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — There are considerable challenges affecting informal settlements in constraining control of COVID-191. ... All interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed ...
https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/40716/1/1352268_Nyashanu.pd…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Additionally, 29 informal settlements were serviced, however, could not be recorded due to various reasons ranging from: • Not having met the standard of ...
https://www.gpl.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Annual-Rep…
+ 1 more evidence source
info
Claim 8: “a sharp rise of 707 compared to 2019”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific increase of 707 settlements compared to 2019 is only mentioned in the Sowetan cross-reference. No other independent sources confirm this specific growth figure.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — There approximately 3400 informal settlements in South Africa in various stages of upgrading. A substantial number of the settlements are located on land that ...
https://pmg.org.za/files/Approved_2023-24_APP.pdf
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — This has since increased to 46.59% access. The number of unit structures in informal settlements with access to electricity has been recorded at 2,151 in ...
https://www.da.org.za/whats-happening-in-the-economic-engine…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jan 28, 2019 ... Rapid urbanization and climate change together increase the vulnerability of poor urban communities to natural hazards, undermining urban ...
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0956247818819694
+ 1 more evidence source
info
Claim 9: “There are now 1,158 informal settlements in Gauteng”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific figure of 1,158 informal settlements is only reported by the Sowetan cross-reference. Other web results discuss informal settlements in Gauteng generally but do not provide this specific total count.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Johannesburg ( joh-HAN-iss-burg, US also -⁠HAHN-, Afrikaans: [jʊəˈɦanəsbœrχ] ; Xhosa: eGoli [ɛˈɡɔːli]; Zulu: iGoli [îˈɡóːli]), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg or "The City of Gold", is the most po…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannesburg
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pretoria ( prih-TOR-ee-ə, pree-; Afrikaans: [prəˈtʉəria] ) is the administrative capital of South Africa, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign emba…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretoria
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gauteng ( khow-TENG, Sotho: [xɑ́.úˈtʼèŋ̀]; Sotho-Tswana for 'place of gold'; Zulu: eGoli or iGoli [îːˈɡóːlì]) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the sma…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauteng
+ 4 more evidence sources
info
Claim 10: “there are more than 860,000 informal structures”
SINGLE SOURCE
The figure of more than 860,000 informal structures is only reported by the Sowetan cross-reference. Other results discuss the economy and general informal sector but not this specific structure count.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Johannesburg is South Africa's primary economic and financial centre, contributing about 16% of the country's gross domestic product and roughly 40% of Gauteng' ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_South_Africa
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 3 days ago ... We need real estate developers to come and partner with the government to build affordable hostels on university campuses across Ghana. more.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYmmjG5surc/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Mar 16, 2021 ... KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY HON. PEGGY O. SERAME MINISTER OF INVESTMENT, TRADE AND INDUSTRY DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE BOTSWANA NATIONAL INFORMAL ...
https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/posts/keynote-ad…
+ 1 more evidence source
info
Claim 11: “Joburg has 353”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific count of 353 settlements for Johannesburg is only provided by the Sowetan cross-reference. Wikipedia and other sources provide general city information but not this specific count.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Save this place to a Trip, where you can track your faves and get personalized picks as you plan. Johannesburg is the place to go to mix big-city culture, shopping, dining and nightlife with outdoor a…
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g312578-Johannesburg_Gre…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · Johannesburg, city, Gauteng province, South Africa. It is the country’s chief industrial and financial metropolis. One of the youngest of the world’s major cities, Johannesburg was founded…
https://www.britannica.com/place/Johannesburg-South-Africa
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Johannesburg is served principally by O. R. Tambo International Airport (formerly Johannesburg International Airport and before that Jan Smuts Airport) for both domestic and international flights.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannesburg
+ 1 more evidence source
info
Claim 12: “Merafong 23”
SINGLE SOURCE
The figure of 23 settlements for Merafong is only reported by the Sowetan cross-reference.
compare_arrows
cross reference SUPPORTS — Merafong 23
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-05-24-gauteng-has-more-t…
cancel
Claim 13: “Mogale City has 89 informal settlements”
DISPUTED
The Sowetan reports 89 settlements for Mogale City, but the Mogale City Integrated Development Plan 2025-26 states there are 'at least 102 informal settlements', and another source mentions 105, creating a contradiction in the specific count.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — ... informal settlements in Mogale City, informal settlement growth has been modest compared with the rest of the Gauteng City Region (Figure. 14). Of the 105 ...
https://iudf.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Final-Mogale-C…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Apr 7, 2025 ... MCLM has at least 102 informal settlements throughout the city. MCLM ... MCLM has 89 men and women to assist with safety traffic.
https://mogalecity.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/Pdfs/Council+Pa…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Plot 89 Muldersdrift. Informal Settlement. Source: Eskom , GDHS – West ... Mogale City LM has formal and Informal settlements. According to Census 2011 ...
https://www.gold.uclg.org/sites/default/files/field-document…
+ 1 more evidence source
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.