Johannesburg: As South Africa continues to grapple with a growing housing backlog and the continued existence of informal settlements, the government is intensifying efforts to address these pressures through an innovation-driven approach to housing delivery. In a bid to accelerate the provision of dignified, resilient, and sustainable houses, the Department of Human Settlements will host the Innovative Building Technologies (IBT) Summit, positioning innovation as a central pillar in the state's response to housing shortages, unsafe dwellings, and disaster-related displacement.
According to South African Government News Agency, the two-day summit is scheduled to take place from 3 to 4 February 2026, at Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, under the theme: 'Mainstreaming Innovative Building Technologies for Sustainable Human Settlements'. It will serve as a national platform to showcase innovative, sustainable, and scalable construction solutions capable of transforming housing delivery across the country. Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, during a media briefing, emphasized that technologies can assist the government's commitment to meeting the targets outlined in the 2024-2029 Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP).
The summit will be dedicated to advancing and showcasing innovative, sustainable, and scalable construction solutions that support the delivery of dignified housing, and the eradication of informal settlements and mud houses. Innovation will also strengthen the government's capacity to respond to housing emergencies caused by disasters. The Minister highlighted that the summit forms part of the department's strategic interventions aimed at addressing South Africa's persistent housing challenges, including the housing backlog and the prevalence of mud houses and structurally unsafe dwellings, particularly in rural and disaster-prone areas.
The Minister also noted the challenges posed by climate change, which has increased the frequency and severity of floods and storms, displacing communities and damaging housing structures. Rapid urbanization and population growth in the country require new and innovative approaches to housing delivery that are faster, more cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, climate resilient, and capable of being deployed at scale. The summit seeks to provide a national platform where such solutions can be explored, assessed, and advanced through collaboration between the government, private sector, and civil society.
The summit will bring together all three spheres of government, including industry leaders, developers, investors, built-environment professionals, and research institutions to engage in practical solutions that can support the development of safe, resilient, and integrated human settlements. Key focus areas of the summit will include modular and prefabricated construction systems, alternative and locally produced building materials, climate-resilient designs, green and energy-efficient solutions, and smart construction methods that reduce both time and cost.
The continued existence of mud houses, particularly in rural provinces, remains a critical concern for the government. These structures are highly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions, including heavy rains and flooding, posing serious risks to the safety and well-being of the occupants. Through the summit, the department aims to promote IBTs that offer durable and affordable alternatives that can be rolled out rapidly, while supporting local manufacturing, skills development, and job creation.
The growth and persistence of informal settlements reflect historical spatial inequalities and ongoing socio-economic pressures. Addressing this challenge requires integrated planning, serviced land, infrastructure investment, and innovative construction that offer faster delivery of permanent housing solutions. The summit will explore how IBTs can support in-situ upgrading, rapid construction, and the development of permanent, dignified housing that improves the quality of household life and reduces vulnerability to disasters.
Disaster response will also feature prominently at the summit, with discussions on modular and rapidly deployable housing systems that can transition communities from temporary shelter to permanent housing solutions, reducing prolonged exposure to unsafe living conditions. The summit will further examine how innovative solutions can be aligned with existing regulatory and policy frameworks, including building standards, safety requirements, and environmental regulations, to enable wider adoption across the sector. An exhibition platform will allow technology providers to showcase solutions applicable to different housing programmes, giving implementing agents and developers an opportunity to assess their suitability for large-scale use.