HSRC Review 21(2). June: 1-29

Abstract

In a time of soaring unemployment, deepening inequality, and mounting dissatisfaction with service delivery, how can we identify interventions to address deep-rooted social challenges? At the HSRC, our goal is to produce research that ultimately impacts society in a meaningful way. In this edition, we highlight research that has demonstrated tangible community outcomes or influenced policy decisions, or could contribute to social change. Backyard rental developments in urban informal settlements are responding to the national housing shortage. Andreas Scheba and Ivan Turok outline how their research has begun to shift the regulatory environment to support this innovative trend, with the aim of empowering homeowners to build safer structures and viable businesses. Addressing social problems requires a deep understanding of their nature, as Gregory Houston and colleagues write in a piece about a social histories project in Wentworth, Durban. The project showcases how the stories of individuals can cast new light on the story of a place and the events that shaped it. Diana Sanchez and her team write about an HSRC sister project in Langa, Cape Town, and how communitybased research can transform public spaces - through supporting initiatives like a local bicycle hub.