Informal settlements in South Africa along with other underserved areas are a sore reminder of the racial injustice and disenfranchisement that characterized the colonial and apartheid regimes. They are also a manifestation of the ongoing housing crisis and of the failure of successive governments in South Africa to guarantee the right to adequate housing among other human rights. With climate change increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, upgrading of informal settlements can be a key disaster risk reduction measure. It is time that all three spheres of government in South Africa mobilize the necessary human, financial and technical resources and redouble efforts to upgrade informal settlements and uphold human rights.