the country's welfare as it directly affects not only the well-being of the public, but also the performance of other sectors of the economy. Traditionally, infrastructure has been provided by the public sector which has been funded by large-scale borrowing. Public infrastructure provision is a natural monopoly which is suited to government agencies and does not allow completion in the normal manner. Housing development, in South Africa, embraces partnerships with other government departments, as well as the private sector, such that it has resulted in more players from a wide range of organisations being involved in housing policy and delivery. Different actors have come together to form an institutional assemblage, combining their efforts and skills to ensure that housing development serves the public interest. Housing development involves an array of agents (villagers, labourers, entrepreneurs, officials, activists, aid donors