URBANISATION AND POPULATION GROWTH
The lack of access to a whole range of social and physical services for those living in less-urbanised areas or provinces gives rise to a migration of people into Greater Johannesburg. A large number of people move from non-urban areas to Greater Johannesburg for better opportunities and access to services. This is further supported by the powerful ‘pull’ factor of employment opportunities.

Urbanisation alone is not the only cause for the high rate of population growth in Greater Johannesburg. The population growth can also be ascribed to natural increase where fertility rates of over 4% are found in poor communities.  The population increase and its projection will increase the pressure on service infrastructure, educational facilities, jobs, health services and housing. A failure to ensure the parallel development of these services to accommodate population growth will only result in a deterioration in poverty levels.

Since 1980 the population growth rate of Greater Johannesburg has been approximately 1,1%. However, there are large variations to be found in growth rates within the metropolitan area. The annual population growth rate of different areas in Greater Johannesburg ranges between 0,14% and 4,29%, (projections, 1995-2000).

TOTAL HOUSING
The rapid population growth rate, as a result of inward migration and natural factors, leads to overcrowding and a shortage of housing stock. Poor access to housing finance and the absence of security of tenure are contributory factors to the housing shortage.

The type of dwelling   clearly indicates the backlog in housing which in turn gives an indication of poverty levels in Greater Johannesburg. The table further illustrates that the backlog exists predominantly among black South Africans who constitute the poorest sector in Greater Johannesburg.

TOTAL INCOME

Women earn low incomes due to practices of job reservation and gender discrimination. Low levels of education, and therefore low wages, result in unequal access to social services, and a lack of access to education. This indicates a decrease in the GGP per capita, an increase in the population as well as an increase in GGP (1990 prices), resulting in a negative per capita growth in GGP for 1970 – 1980 with a very low growth rate for 1980 – 1991.

UNEMPLOYMENT
High levels of unemployment and low levels of income create conditions of poverty which results in pressures which impact on the environment. The employment status a based on the 1996 Census illustrates the high levels of unemployment in Greater Johannesburg.

EDUCATION
Past apartheid practices resulted in a strong correlation between race and educational attainment in most parts of South Africa, including Johannesburg. This has resulted in levels as high as nearly 20% of the population being illiterate, with only 29% having reached a Standard five (Grade 7) level of education. A further contributing factor to the low levels of education is the gender differences due to tribalism.