The City of Cape Town's Mayco member for Human Settlements, Carl Pophaim, was challenged on the issue of affordable housing during an interview on CapeTalk. A listener asked when affordable housing would be developed in 'wealthy' areas such as Constantia and Bishopscourt. Pophaim rejected the suggestion that certain areas were off-limits for affordable housing, saying the City had prioritised available, feasible sites across Cape Town.
Pophaim cited developments in Woodstock, Salt River, and the CBD as examples of affordable housing in formerly "whites-only" areas. He said these projects were not only delivering housing but also redressing apartheid spatial planning. Pophaim encouraged Capetonians to work with him directly on identifying suitable sites for affordable housing, saying no site was untouchable.
The challenge comes after the City's submission of a progress report in response to the Constitutional Court's landmark Tafelberg judgment. In July, the Constitutional Court ruled that the City and Western Cape government had failed in their constitutional obligations to redress spatial injustice through well-located social and affordable housing. The court emphasised that location matters when determining whether housing is adequate.
Pophaim acknowledged that the City is not providing enough affordable housing to meet the demand. He attributed this to rapid urbanisation and migration within Cape Town, which he said meant the state could not meet demand on its own. Pophaim called for the private sector to participate more rapidly in providing affordable housing.
The City has released 14 municipal sites for affordable housing during its current term, including six in the inner city. These sites could provide more than 7,000 housing opportunities. Pophaim also wants more national government land released for affordable housing and mentioned the potential of military sites, including Wingfield and Youngsfield.
The issue of affordable housing is a major challenge in Cape Town, with the City facing criticism for its approach to addressing the housing crisis. The City's efforts to provide affordable housing have been hampered by limited resources and the need for private sector participation. Pophaim's comments suggest that the City is open to exploring new approaches to addressing the housing crisis.
The City's approach to affordable housing will continue to be closely watched, particularly in light of the Constitutional Court's ruling on the Tafelberg judgment. The court's emphasis on the importance of location in determining adequate housing will likely influence the City's future decisions on affordable housing.
Key points
- The City of Cape Town is open to considering any viable site for affordable housing, including in affluent areas.
- The City has released 14 municipal sites for affordable housing, which could provide over 7,000 housing opportunities.
- The City is seeking more national government land to be released for affordable housing, including potential military sites.
