Analysis of the Living Conditions at eZakheleni Informal Settlement of Durban: Implications for Community Revitalization in South Africa

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Introduction and Literature: 

• Although the topic is interesting, I'm not convinced yet why this study is essential and can significantly contribute to the existing literature. There is no literature section at all! There have been many studies about informal settlements and the living conditions there. Thus, what is the contribution of this study? The study background can be more elaborated with previous studies and then add the literature gap, particularly in the context of informal settlements in South Africa as well as in the global context. 

• I would like to see the author also include literature from South Africa focusing on informality and infrastructure among other topics, to have a better context for their study.

Methodology:

• Currently, the paper is rather generic. Your description of the case study is still lack. Please explain why you chose this neighbourhood and the city instead of other informal settlements in other cities. 
• The author needs to redesign the survey instrument and be very clear and intentional with survey subjects. Who are the respondents? The head or any member of the households? How did you select the respondents at the settlement level? 
• The map of the settlement is also unclear. Some photos of infrastructure and facilities in the settlement would be helpful to visualise it.

Conclusion:

Some of the implications are clearly stated in the paper, particularly about research. Others are implied and maybe needed to be spoken up and clearly identified, such as the need to improve understanding of informal settlements and the need for better policies to address them in "their own terms". Also, it is important to conclude how this study's result is relevant with other existing studies of the same topic. 

Author Response

Introduction and Literature: 

Although the topic is interesting, I'm not convinced yet why this study is essential and can significantly contribute to the existing literature. There is no literature section at all! There have been many studies about informal settlements and the living conditions there. Thus, what is the contribution of this study? The study background can be more elaborated with previous studies and then add the literature gap, particularly in the context of informal settlements in South Africa as well as in the global context. 

I would like to see the author also include literature from South Africa focusing on informality and infrastructure among other topics, to have a better context for their study.

Response: Thanks for this comment. We have added Literature review from previous studies in South Africa, Please see lines 68– 109.

Methodology:

• Currently, the paper is rather generic. Your description of the case study is still lack. Please explain why you chose this neighbourhood and the city instead of other informal settlements in other cities. 
• The author needs to redesign the survey instrument and be very clear and intentional with survey subjects. Who are the respondents? The head or any member of the households? How did you select the respondents at the settlement level? 
• The map of the settlement is also unclear. Some photos of infrastructure and facilities in the settlement would be helpful to visualise it.

Response: Thanks for this comment. We have reworked the identified section, the choice of the study area has been justified. See line 119-124. In addition, photos (Figure 2) have been included .Please see lines 52 – 58 and Figure 2.

Conclusion:

Some of the implications are clearly stated in the paper, particularly about research. Others are implied and maybe needed to be spoken up and clearly identified, such as the need to improve understanding of informal settlements and the need for better policies to address them in "their own terms". Also, it is important to conclude how this study's result is relevant with other existing studies of the same topic. 

Response: Thanks for this comment. We have briefly discussed the importance/roles of government and NGOs under “the introductory section”. Please see lines 52 – 58.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Introduction: Some improvements are needed, see below: State clearly why this research is different than the others such as R Richards, B O'Leary, K Mutsonziwa (2007) and its importance in terms of other similar studies in informal settlements. Correct typological and grammar errors and punctuation mistakes overall in this section. Methodology: It is defined and explained. More understanding about the type and size of the case study informal settlement such as overall population, household numbers etc. Can you add few images from sampling or surveys? Correct typological errors and punctuation mistakes overall in this section. Results: Addition to the typological and punctuation mistakes, reference names such as line 123 needs to be corrected. Are there any other informal settlement analysis studies with similar approach to compare and comment about the results? How is the situation different here than any other cases studies to make the data different or interesting? Line 195: Statement about the socio-economic importance of the case study is not clear as it is not mentioned and linked with the safety issues. Clarify these with separate sentences. Overall comment on the results of the tables such as Table 4 and explain the results in the light of existing literature. What does data tell us? Are they expected results or different? Are there any surprises? Conclusion: This sections needs improvement: Before conclusion, discussion and recommendations should be explaining the review of the research carried out in the informal settlement. It doesn't talk about relocation, and is not clear if these improvements should be done on the existing site. What is next in this research and its impact on the wider studies and literature? How is this study positioned in the existing settlement research in S. Africa? There is no mention of community revitalization (as indicated in the title) and it is not clear what socio-economic role I.S. play in the region. Do communities mobilize for their rights and welfares? Overall there are many grammar, typographical and punctuation errors. These should be corrected. Clear state the novel approach and new findings in relation to the existing literature. Make comments about the community revitalization or is it meant spatial settlement revitalization? The latter is about the psychical improvements.

Author Response

Introduction:

Some improvements are needed, see below: State clearly why this research is different than the others such as R Richards, B O'Leary, K Mutsonziwa (2007) and its importance in terms of other similar studies in informal settlements. Correct typological and grammar errors and punctuation mistakes overall in this section.

Response: Thanks for your comments. We have justified the work as suggested. See Line 101-110, Page 3. The work has also been given to a professional English editor for corrections. See pages 1-17

Methodology:

It is defined and explained. More understanding about the type and size of the case study informal settlement such as overall population, household numbers etc. Can you add few images from sampling or surveys?

Response: We thank you for pointing out this observations the population size and pictures have been added. See pages 3-5.

Correct typological errors and punctuation mistakes overall in this section.

Response: We thank you for pointing out this observations and editorials have been corrected.

Results:

Addition to the typological and punctuation mistakes, reference names such as line 123 needs to be corrected.

Response: We thank you for pointing out this observations, we have fixed the concern. See line 173

Are there any other informal settlement analysis studies with similar approach to compare and comment about the results? How is the situation different here than any other cases studies to make the data different or interesting?

Response: There is no exact work with a similar approach, this work used multi-disciplinary approach.

Line 195: Statement about the socio-economic importance of the case study is not clear as it is not mentioned and linked with the safety issues. Clarify these with separate sentences. Overall comment on the results of the tables such as Table 4 and explain the results in the light of existing literature. Response: We thank you for pointing out this observations, we have fixed the concern. Table 4 is the multicollinearity test table for the set variables in the Table 5 where the significance level of the variables were discussed in the light of existing literature as well as what the data tells us. See 279-319.

Conclusion:

This sections needs improvement: Before conclusion, discussion and recommendations should be explaining the review of the research carried out in the informal settlement. It doesn't talk about relocation, and is not clear if these improvements should be done on the existing site. What is next in this research and its impact on the wider studies and literature? How is this study positioned in the existing settlement research in S. Africa? There is no mention of community revitalization (as indicated in the title) and it is not clear what socio-economic role I.S. play in the region. Do communities mobilize for their rights and welfares? Overall there are many grammar, typographical and punctuation errors. These should be corrected. Clear state the novel approach and new findings in relation to the existing literature. Make comments about the community revitalization or is it meant spatial settlement revitalization? The latter is about the psychical improvements.

Response: Thanks for this good comment. Each finding has been discussed with suggestions to improve the situation in the study area. The suggested next research has been indicated in the conclusion together with other initiatives that could be done by the community itself without waiting for the government to assist. Government policies that address revitalisation are suggested. The grammar, typological and punctuation errors have been corrected. (See the conclusion section)

Author Response File: Author Response.docx