The advent of the COVID-19 global health pandemic in South Africa has exposed the existence of overcrowded informal settlements as a major threat to human health and further tested the government's capacity for disaster management. In the emergency responses provided by the government to mitigate the spread of the pandemic in the overcrowded settlements, it was found that there was weak coordination and accountability at the sector level, and indicators of non-compliance were identified. This article examines the human settlements interventions to mitigate and control the devastating impacts of COVID-19, using temporary residential units (TRUs). The key focus areas are the coordination of government functions across the spheres of government, and systems of accountability for seamless implementation of emergency solutions. As a research methodology, the article conducts a systematic review of existing literature and source inform