They extract payments from those who rent their out-rooms or land, but boycott their own payments. Tensions between them and their tenants are evident. Shut out of local political structures, there is no apparent organisational home for those living in backyard or informal dwellings. There is a large political space opening for organising the poorest citizens. Stratification and xenophobia Townships have an increasingly entrenched hierarchy.
Formal homeowners are at the top.
They are better educated and more likely to be employed than those living in backyard or informal dwellings, and control local organisations. They avoid political or community involvement for fear of eviction. Both groups look with fear and hostility at 'squatters', those living in informal settlements. The 'squatters' are not welcomed into local structures, and are characterised as dirty and lawless. They in turn resent those living in the township proper because of the way they are regarded and treated.