For many people living
and working in Cape Town, finding affordable housing has become increasingly difficult.
Rising property prices and rental costs have forced many residents to live far
from where they work or study, often spending hours commuting each day.
Picture: PixabayThese challenges have
once again come under the spotlight following a landmark Constitutional Court
ruling on the former Tafelberg School site in Sea Point. The judgement
reignited debate around affordable housing, spatial justice and whether
well-located public land should be used to provide homes for lower and
middle-income earners.
The Constitutional Court
found that the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government had failed to
meet constitutional standards in their handling of the Tafelberg School site. The
court ruled that the government must consider the location of affordable
housing developments and cannot rely solely on the high value of public land
when making decisions about its use. The judgement also requires the Western
Cape Government to provide a report outlining its affordable housing plans and
detailing the number of affordable homes delivered in Cape Town’s inner city
and surrounding areas since the Tafelberg litigation began in 2017.
The GOOD Party welcomed
the judgement, describing it as a significant step towards addressing Cape Town’s
spatial inequality. Secretary-General Brett Herron said the City has identified
ten publicly owned sites in the inner city, Salt River and Woodstock that could
be used for affordable housing.
Among those are the
Democratic Alliance who says progress is being made through partnerships
between government and the private sector. ActionSA also welcomed the ruling, saying
the judgement reinforces principle that affordable housing should be developed close
to jobs, schools and public transport.
The Constitutional Court’s decision may shape the future of affordable housing policy in Cape Town, but for many residents, the number of affordable homes built in well-located communities will ultimately measure meaningful progress.
Done By: Keelyn Jardien
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