At a 2016 seminar human settlements officials defended the housing policy: Mandela's government had 'no choice' about providing free houses. Despite its faults, it was policy. But nowhere else in the developing world do states have such an extensive role in housing as SA. They've tried to promote 'Breaking New Ground', but persist w/ the defective model of one family, one dwelling a plot. It's unsustainable, hugely costly and unfair, the last bec not everyone who needs a house will get one. The 'waiting list' is a joke, national database non-existent and people who already have houses or earn above the minimum income get one. Like so many of government's bright ideas. 
The Grootboom decision was well-intentioned but impractical. State housing ought to be for the truly vulnerable - the elderly, infirm, etc, NOT people who can build their own, even in an informal settlement. This decision was the correct one for exposing the contradictions of an unworkable model. Scrap it!