The national housing rollout deficit is a key factor affecting service delivery.

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says that this is evident in the prevalence of land occupation in the City of Cape Town.

While rampant poverty is one factor contributing to this problem, land set aside for public services or housing developments are being occupied.

This leads to construction being hindered, as the courts and organisations battle over the interpretation of the country’s laws protecting people’s right to housing.

Smith says that informal structures are set up so quickly, that law enforcement officers will have to be stationed at open tracts of land across the municipality.