The City thanks all those who have already commented. We also thank participants who have taken part in our virtual meetings, such as representatives from the NPO and civic sectors, Social Housing institutions, councillors and intergovernmental partners. All inputs are being considered.

Interested parties have until 30 November 2020 to provide input on the strategy, which took almost two years to formulate. It is aimed at enabling greater partnership, collaboration, inclusivity and innovation in the human settlements sphere. This is crucial, as the City on its own cannot solve the challenges of urbanisation, increased informality and a drastic shortage in the housing stock. This strategy is meant to enable more sustainable, integrated and spatially transformed communities.

‘We are expecting a shortfall in the development of formal housing opportunities of approximately 30 000 every year within the next decade, assuming the average annual rate of supply by both the private and public sectors remain unchanged. We are also expecting the dire state of the South African economy, exacerbated by COVID-19, to get worse before it gets better. This will continue to have a profound impact on our communities, neighbourhoods, health as a city and the growing informality that we see.

‘As a municipality, we continue to do everything in our power to address the need for accommodation. But we cannot do it alone. We need more partnerships and an intervention on national government level to address the growing informality in South Africa and to ensure that the human settlements regime can manage this phenomenon. The City’s Human Settlements Directorate spent 98% of its Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) capital budget in the 2019/20 financial year despite the impact of  COVID-19 and the national lockdown regulations. This shows we are delivering, but interventions are required. This is not a City strategy, this is a Cape Town Strategy because we are all in this together,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi.

Between 1996 and 2016, Cape Town’s population increased by 56% to more than 4,3 million residents, and over the same period, there was a 94% increase in the number of households, to around 1,36 million. To accommodate projected growth as well as to manage the existing housing demand, it is estimated that roughly 500 000 housing opportunities need to be created between now and 2028.

• Approximately 17% of households in Cape Town live in informal dwellings, many with inadequate security and shelter. The provision of basic services is heavily impacted on the degree of informality and where an informal dwelling is situated. For instance, if it is on privately-owned land, the City may not install services or the settlement or backyard is too densely populated to allow for the installation of services.
• Urbanisation will continue and the associated growth in informality, especially considering the dire national economic conditions in South Africa. This is not a problem that is unique to Cape Town, but it is perhaps exacerbated by the limited suitable land and topography of Cape Town as a Peninsula.
• Human settlements delivery is beset with challenges, including R1,3 billion in housing projects under threat from ongoing orchestrated land invasions, national budget cuts, a weak economy and regulatory red tape.
• The City’s Human Settlements Directorate spent approximately 98% of its USDG funding in the 2019/20 financial year, despite the substantial impact that COVID-19 had on its operations. This illustrates the City is able to deliver on State projects as earmarked, but the need is pronounced and a new, whole-of-society approach is required.
• All suitable City-owned land must continue to be assessed, including suitable land in and near the Cape Town CBD and other urban centres with various uses - from golf courses to mixed use areas - to determine whether some of these properties could be developed for affordable housing opportunities among others.

Housing markets are inter-connected; what happens on one end will affect the other. The principles of the draft Human Settlements Strategy thus are applicable to households of all income levels.

View and comment on the strategy
Please visit www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay to see what strategic shifts are proposed. The executive summary of the strategy is available in the three official languages at subcouncil offices.

Submit comments

• By email: Hspolicy.Research@capetown.gov.za
• In writing: to be submitted at any of the City’s subcouncil offices
• Online: www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay
• Via WhatsApp: 063 299 9927

The City’s Public Participation Unit will assist people living with disabilities who are unable to submit written comments to have their objections recorded and submitted to the City.

For special assistance, please contact: Mbuthokazi Patience Kubashe at 021 400 9808 or Mbuthokazi.Kubashe@capetown.gov.za

For more information contact Hspolicy.Research@capetown.gov.za

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