South Africa is a dynamic developing country in transition. Like other developing countries, South Africa is facing rapid urbanisation, posing a range of risks, particularly for people living in informal settlements. The fast, and uncontrolled community growth of Imizamo Yethu, an infamous township in the Cape Town area, has resulted in very dense living conditions on land largely unsuitable for habitation, resulting in multiple risks for the residents. The settlement was originally planned to support approximately 3000 people and today figures range somewhere between 16 000 and 36 000 people, and increasing exponentially.