He predicted a growth in informal housing - a euphemism for squatter shanties - around cities.

"We don't have the money for formal housing, so we have to live with informal housing."

The residential areas in the northern suburbs are mainly formal, with no significant areas of informal housing, or housing that lacks a permanent structure.

The informal settlements in this area are growing rapidly, with 76 per cent of the population of Diepsloot living in informal housing.

More than seven million people in urban areas live in what is euphemistically described as informal housing.

Mahwa Aser is home to an estimated 17,000 people who live in informal housing without access to sanitation.

However, there are particularly pernicious circumstances in developing countries that lead to a large proportion of the population resorting to informal housing.

Most of the residents of the constituency live in informal housing, which includes housing made of bricks or corrugated iron.

The lack of affordable housing stock has also led to an increase in informal housing.

About 85% of Kliptown comprises informal housing.