Cape Town: Government is working with provinces and metros to reclaim buildings that have been hijacked in the city centres and repurpose them for public use. President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement when he was delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday evening.
According to South African Government News Agency, the President emphasized the need to tackle inequality by undoing apartheid spatial planning, which has impacted cities and forced many people to live far from areas of work and opportunity. He acknowledged the millions of housing opportunities that have been delivered since 1994, providing safety and dignity to poor households. However, he noted that building housing developments on the periphery of urban centers has perpetuated inequality and urban sprawl.
Looking forward, the government plans to construct more housing in city centers, closer to work and business opportunities. The President mentioned that the government is redesigning housing subsidies and directing more funding toward programs that enable people to buy or rent homes in areas of their choice. Additionally, more underutilized state properties will be released for affordable housing development.
The President outlined plans to provide 300,000 serviced stands to qualifying beneficiaries, enabling housing development in well-planned, connected communities along key development corridors. The government also aims to clear the backlog of title deeds for subsidized housing, turning homes into household assets. Moreover, there will be a review of land use, building, and other regulations to enable low-cost property development, including backyard housing.
This approach signifies a fundamental rethink of how the state delivers housing at scale while transforming cities into engines of growth and opportunity.