Homelessness in South Africa

Homelessness in South Africa dates back to the apartheid period. Increasing unemployment, lack of affordable housing, social disintegration, and social and economic policies have all been identified as contributing factors to the issue.

Some scholars argue that solutions to homelessness in South Africa lie more within the private sphere than in the legal and political spheres.

There is no national census on homeless people in South Africa; researchers instead rely on individual studies of homeless persons in particular cities.

In 2022, the South African homeless population was reported by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) to comprise a total of 55,719 individuals.

One study found that three-quarters of South African metropolitan municipalities viewed homelessness primarily as a social dependency issue and responded with social interventions. At the same time, homeless South Africans indicated that the most important assistance the municipality could provide was employment and well-located, affordable housing.

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