The creation of sustainable low-income human settlements is a challenging task in the South African housing provision practice. This is because sustainable human settlements can only be achieved if the principle of integrated development informs all human settlements projects especially in the post-apartheid South Africa. This may include the use of space in relation to the provision of basic services, strategic location of settlements in relations to access and availability of employment opportunities, the consideration of social and environmental aspects of the settlements and the provision of sport and recreational facilities. The non-provision of basic services has led to several challenges especially for the youth. The study emphasises the provision of sport and recreational facilities as forming part of basic needs for any community that intends to pursue the goal of sustainable development. Underpinned by qualitative design, the study unpacks mainly the social challenges that are experienced by residents who reside in settlements where the provision of sporting and recreational facilities is non-existent. Qualitative data was collected through structured interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussion and observation. Two municipal officials from Greater Kokstad municipality were identified through purposive sampling method. A sample of 42 residents was secured through systematic sampling. This sample was drawn from a population of about 420 households in the study area. The study found that due to non-provision of sport and recreational facilities, there is high level of crime, drug and alcohol abuse, obesity mostly among the youth and violence. To a certain degree, the prevalence of some of these challenges if not all could be mitigated if sport and recreational facilities were provided in all communities irrespective of their economic status and location. Therefore, this study argues that the provision of sporting facilities must form part of project packaging so that such facilities form part of project implementation.