Latest News & Developments
housing and urban planning policy
Residents demand action as Elsies River housing project remains abandoned
Residents of Elsies River express growing frustration over a stalled R126 million housing development, embroiled in a legal dispute between the contractor and developer, as the community calls for intervention to address the abandoned site.
Cape Town's informal settlements: a growing crisis in urban housing
With one in five urban South Africans living in informal settlements, Cape Town faces a housing crisis that mirrors national struggles. This article explores the factors driving the surge in informal settlements and the city's response to this urgent issue.
Shooting deaths prompt development plans for Marry Me informal settlement
Following the tragic deaths of six patrollers in the Marry Me informal settlement, local authorities have announced plans to upgrade the area with essential services, including water and electricity.
Tshwane Housing MMC intervenes as R60m debt forces hundreds onto streets
City of Tshwane's MMC for Housing addresses the ongoing tensions at Thembelihle Village, where evictions and financial disputes between tenants and Yeast City Housing have escalated, leaving many residents in distress.
Tshwane Housing MMC intervenes as R60m debt forces hundreds onto streets
City of Tshwane's MMC for Housing addresses the ongoing tensions at Thembelihle Village, where evictions and financial disputes between tenants and Yeast City Housing have escalated, leaving many residents in distress.
Capetonians invited to comment on mixed-use development plans in Pinelands
Capetonians have until the end of March to shape the future of Pinelands with proposed mixed-use development plans that promise affordable housing and commercial opportunities.
Gauteng Housing Crisis: DA demands answers from Human Settlements MEC Motara over 178,000 title deeds backlog
DA urges immediate action from MEC Motara to address Gauteng's 178,000 title deeds backlog and housing crisis.
Burning Injustice: Cape Town’s Neglect of Informal Settlements, Backyarders, and the Price of Governance Failure
How Cape Town's governance failures exacerbate the plight of informal settlements and what urgent reforms are needed to ensure safety and equity for all residents.
Tshwane concerned about mushrooming informal settlements, spending over R360 million on water tankers and toilets
MMC Aaron Maluleka said according to the Constitution, the city has to provide utilities including water at informal settlements.
Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala’s Philippi Outreach Program speech
Deputy Minister of Human Settlements Tandi Mahambehlala delivered a speech at the Philippi Outreach Program where social relief was handed over to 500 beneficiaries across Cape Town’s communities.
R30 million for a roof over Cape Town Stadium for a Dricus fight, but we can’t house the poor?
Amid a housing crisis, the City of Cape Town has proposed spending money that could be used for the development of social housing on a vanity project to support its bid to host a UFC Africa Dricus du Plessis fight.
Lives are lost in Joburg abandoned buildings. What is the City doing about it?
Minister of public works and infrastructure Dean MacPherson, revealed that there are 338 hijacked government buildings across the country
Department of Human Settlement warns residents against RDP housing fraud spikes in Gauteng
The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements has cautioned residents to stay vigilant against “unscrupulous people” selling RDP houses throughout the province, citing an increase in housing scams.
‘Work as a family’: Kubayi kick-starts relocating 500 flooded Cape Town households to temporary accommodation
‘Our immediate intervention is to relocate families to be accommodated at the Western Cape School of Governance where we will enter into a lease agreement of 30 days. In two weeks, we must identify land and I have spoken to all the families who are affected, and they have agreed to move,’ Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said.
‘Life and death delays’: Western Cape Infrastructure Department calls for decentralisation of the Emergency Housing Fund to respond to disasters quicker
In the 2023/24 financial year, in the City of Cape Town, there were 24,183 structures damaged and 32,586 people affected by inclement weather and fires.
City of Cape Town issues a R1 million penalty for unauthorised apartment building
The order was handed down by the Western Cape High Court.
‘They focus on bigger parts of the Western Cape where it is visible’: Western Cape residents weigh in on DA rule
Sadia Mulder said she does not intend on voting because of the empty promises being spun by political parties.
Affordability and poor credit scores are forcing South Africans to rent instead of buying property
The majority of people renting residential property are doing so due to financial reasons, with almost half of them admitting they cannot afford to buy property,
IOL Elections Panel Discussion: ANC vs DA on housing in the Western Cape
The Cape Town event is the last of its kind after panel discussions were held with political parties in KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg last week, and housing was a hot topic.
Durban mayor mulls over building apartment blocks to alleviate city’s housing problem
eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, believes constructing flats or apartment blocks could alleviate the City's housing issue.
Struggle for dignity in Hout Bay’s informal settlements
AS political parties ramp up their election campaigns with a slew of promises to improve the lives of people, some residents living in Hout Bay’s informal settlements are planning to boycott the May 29 polls.
Can living wall systems solve urban food poverty?
As urban populations surge, space for traditional farming dwindles. But could building facades hold the key to growing food sustainably?
Godongwana should not touch personal and property taxes, says Seeff
Samuel Seeff, the chairman of the Seeff Property Group has called on Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana to keep personal and property taxes unchanged as a bare minimum.
Lesufi promises to eradicate shacks in Gauteng with ‘townships of the future’ - Sopa 2024
Premier Panyaza Lesufi has promised to eradicate Gauteng’s 700 informal settlements, saying the provincial government has bought land to address the issue.
Beware: City of Cape warns against Kraaifontein housing scam
The City of Cape Town said it was made aware of a scam involving its Maroela housing project in Kraaifontein.