Ndifuna Ukwazi’s Mpho Raboeane and Robyn Park-Ross, Anoxolo Felane from Indibano Yabahlali and Malcom McCarthy, former National Association of Social Housing Organisations (NASHO) joined in a panel discussion on Tuesday night about affordable housing in Cape Town. Photo: Marecia Damons
As reported by Marecia Damons at GroundUp, housing activists in Cape Town, led by Ndifuna Ukwazi, are pushing for affordable housing by urging the release of state-owned land. They’ve submitted 12 new applications to the Department of Public Works, joining the 32 identified parcels across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.
Activist Robyn Park-Ross highlighted the hardships of long commutes for working-class residents, urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to employ the State Land Disposal Act of 1961 for housing purposes. Emphasising housing over parking lots, they propose sites like Parliament’s and government-owned garages for development, in line with the #Land4PeopleNot4Parking campaign. Advocating for affordable housing, they stress it shouldn’t surpass one-third of household income. By prompting a review of public land use in cities, they aim to tackle the housing crisis and ensure fair housing access.
Anoxolo Felane from Indibano Yabahlali emphasized the environmental toll of prioritizing parking, underscoring the need to curb carbon emissions and protect the ozone layer. Advocating CBD relocation to minimize commutes and reliance on transportation, they believe it benefits both individuals and the environment. Their push for state-owned land usage aligns with sustainable urban development goals, addressing the urgent need for affordable housing.
▶️ read the original article at GroundUp here
