Municipal perspectives on Informal Land Markets

Isandla Institute conducted the project Municipal perspectives on informal land markets for ULM, which culminated in a set of proposals for further conceptualisation, advocacy and technical support in the City of Cape Town. Towards the end of 2008 the Director was invited by the Western Cape Department of Housing to serve on a reference group on municipal housing allocation. The purpose of the reference group is to help guide research and policy development regarding municipal housing allocation in the province. Recent research conducted by the Department revealed that there is no uniform approach to housing allocation in municipalities across the province. Current practice brings to light the tensions embedded in national policy between housing allocation on the basis of beneficiary waiting lists and approaches targeting communities for housing allocation (e.g. through upgrading, relocation, etc.). This reality raises complex questions related to administrative justice, fairness and transparency, amongst others. The Department seeks to develop policy guidelines that will ultimately make housing allocation in the province more consistent, fair and transparent.