In the context of the national housing crisis, supporting and enabling self-build incremental housing construction resulting in safe, dignified housing is a vital response. People do not only need money to build better and meet safety standards; they also need technical advice and support on how to build and augment dwellings over time, how to comply with the municipality’s requirements, and how to navigate the municipality’s organisational structure to access relevant services. This is where Housing Support Centres (HSCs) can play a vital role. In 2024, an HSC pilot was conducted in a partnership between the City of Cape Town (CoCT) and the Backyard Matters (BYM) project (itself a partnership initiative between Isandla Institute and the Development Action Group). This paper draws lessons from the pilot for replication and contextualisation of the HSC model in other municipalities and other human settlements contexts. Recommendations are made for municipalities seeking to replicate and contextualise the HSC model, for national/provincial policy and institutionalisation, and for CSOs and other support organisations keen to partner with a municipality in piloting and/or rolling out HSCs.

Small-scale affordable rental housing is increasingly recognised as both an important housing option and a significant contributor to township economic development. The small-scale affordable rental housing sector is highly diverse, incorporating a variety of landlord, tenant and housing typologies, with varying degrees of compliance to norms, standards and regulations. Awareness of crucial differences in small-scale affordable rental housing typologies is important for understanding the varied ways in which they operate as well as their future growth potential and capacity to formalise. Appreciating this diversity is key to developing appropriate responses and support interventions that adequately respond to the needs and opportunities inherent to specific sub-sectors of this housing market. While there may be common issues (e.g. the importance of adequate access to basic services), there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach that municipalities can adopt to address key challenges present in the sector and to capitalise on the opportunities it presents. This pamphlet maps out these differences, provides guidance on what municipalities can do, and how responses and support interventions can adequately respond to the specific sub-sectors of this housing market.

Many people live in unsafe informal structures which disproportionately expose them to climate change impacts, while the construction sector is among the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. This paper looks at how alternative building technologies (ABTs) can be a game changer for affordable housing that is safe, dignified, climate-resilient and potentially low-carbon, and their great potential for job creation.

South Africa’s economy needs to shift away from its reliance on coal and move towards a low-carbon economy. Cities as drivers of the economy need to play a leading role in this transition, in a manner that advances climate resilience, socio-economic inclusion and equity. Informal settlements cannot be left behind. In fact, informal settlement upgrading should be an urgent national development priority, that has been made even more pressing due to the disproportionate climate impacts in informal settlements. A just urban transition posits informal settlements at the centre of investment, innovation, partnerships and resilience building, which will not only result in dignified, safe, vibrant and sustainable neighbourhoods; it will contribute to the urban dividend.

Informal settlements as catalysts for a just urban transition is a joint initiative of Isandla Institute and National Treasury’s Cities Support Programme, supported by SouthSouthNorth. Informed by a series of critical dialogues, the project has produced insightful knowledge products that conclude with key recommendations for improved practice and policy.

Informal settlements represent the failure of South Africa’s labour market. A just urban transition places significant emphasis on economic considerations as central to climate-informed development. Place-based, place-making and circular economy approaches hold significant potential for foregrounding the economic dimensions and potential of informal settlement upgrading, with public employment programmes playing a critical role in the transformation of informal settlements.

The persistent presence and growth of informal settlements should be understood as a national crisis, requiring extraordinary measures and targeted investment. Using a just urban transition frame, this crisis can become a vital opportunity, not only for informal settlement residents but also for the urban systems that these settlements are part of. 

The small-scale affordable rental housing sector is highly diverse. Awareness of crucial differences is important for understanding the varied ways in which they operate and their future growth potential and capacity to formalise. It is also key to developing appropriate responses and support interventions that adequately respond to the needs and opportunities inherent to specific sub-sectors of this housing market.

Throughout our organisational history, Isandla Institute has sought to promote and contribute to systems and practices of urban governance that advance spatial justice, urban inclusion, active citizenship and equitable urban development. As we chart our trajectory for the next phase, our work will be guided by the notion of a just urban transition. Read more about our programmes.

The CSO Winter School on Backyard Housing took place on 11-13 June 2024. The Winter School provided dedicated space for CSOs to engage some of the crucial challenges and opportunities confronting the backyard housing sector. Insightful presentations and engaging discussions allowed for reflection on a range of issues that not only impact the backyard housing sector but are commonly confronted by all communities who live in conditions of informality.

The core objectives of the CSO Winter School were to:
• Deepen knowledge of the (diverse) backyard housing sector and the important role it plays in providing affordable housing and facilitating and contributing to local economic and neighbourhood development;
• Increase understanding of the challenges faced by the sector and the potential role(s) that CSOs could fulfil in enabling/strengthening the backyard housing sector; and
• Explore how CSOs can take the insights gained forward into their own practice and/or advocacy on housing, human settlements and access to services.

The objectives of the CSO Winter School were certainly met. The Summary Report captures the highlights of the programme and some of the discussions that shaped our interaction.

Many people live in unsafe informal structures which disproportionately expose them to climate change impacts, while the construction sector is among the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. This paper looks at how ABTs can be a game changer for affordable housing that is safe, dignified, climate-resilient and potentially low-carbon, and their great potential for job creation.