Amnesty International has publicly criticized the South African government for its inadequate response to the housing needs of over five million of its citizens residing in informal settlements, which are increasingly vulnerable to severe flooding. The rights organization's latest [report](https://amnesty.org.za/research/flooded-and-forgotten-informal-settlements-and-the-right-to-housing-in-south-africa/) sheds light on these communities' lack of essential services such as water, electricity, and sanitation, compounded by their high exposure to flood risks due to climate change.

The findings reveal that the government’s efforts to handle the consequences of flooding and the ongoing housing shortage have been inconsistent and fragmented. This has led to the proliferation of informal settlements across the nation. Many affected individuals have found themselves in temporary housing for years following flood disasters, with some fatalities reported post-relocation.

Shenilla Mohamed, Executive Director of Amnesty International South Africa, expressed her concerns, stating, "The government is failing the millions of people trapped in these underserved areas, especially in a time when economic hardships and poverty are rife. People live in informal settlements because there is a lack of affordable and accessible formal housing."

Despite the existence of several laws aimed at securing access to housing and essential services, including the right to adequate housing as recognized in the [1996 Constitution](https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution/constitution-republic-south-africa-1996-04-feb-1997), the [Housing Act 107 of 1997](https://www.gov.za/documents/housing-act), and the [Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act 19 of 1998](https://www.gov.za/documents/prevention-illegal-eviction-and-unlawful-occupation-land-act), their implementation has been largely ineffective.

The organization has urged the South African government to honor its [national and international human rights obligations](https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-economic-social-and-cultural-rights) by adopting specific budgetary and policy measures to upgrade informal settlements and integrate disaster risk reduction into urban planning. This call comes in light of the rising threat of extreme weather events linked to climate change, which is expected to [intensify](https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/blog/54171/climate-change-in-south-africa-21-stunning-facts-about-south-africas-climate-breakdown/#:~:text=Mean%20annual%20temperatures%20in%20the,crisis%20here%20in%20South%20Africa.) in the coming years.

Recent severe floods in June 2025 struck rural areas in the Eastern Cape province, claiming 100 lives and displacing numerous residents, exacerbating the housing crisis. The apartheid system’s legacy, characterized by policies of land dispossession and racial segregation, continues to impact the housing situation profoundly. These policies historically forced black South Africans into underdeveloped peripheries, hindering their ability to obtain adequate housing and resulting in a concentration of land ownership among a white minority.

The full details of Amnesty International’s call to action and their comprehensive report can be found on [JURIST - News](https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/11/rights-group-urges-south-africa-to-protect-citizens-right-to-housing/).