Latest articles on Housing Backlog

City of Jo’burg in housing quandary

Article Govan Whittles & Raeesa Pather - 15 Jun 2017

Temporary shelters for evictees are packed in the inner city, but there aren’t enough low-cost rentals to house them

South Africa urgently needs to rethink its approach to housing

Article Staff Reporter - 5 Jun 2017

More than 100 000 people move to Johannesburg a year, making it impossible to address the scale of demand.

Mashaba and Mashatile clash as residents fight

Article Govan Whittles - 26 May 2017

"It will take at least 30 years to resolve the housing backlog in Johannesburg, said Herman Mashaba, blaming funding cuts by the Gauteng government."

Young, unemployed and without proper shelter in Freedom Park

Article bogdan TagDiv - 16 May 2017

Thobekani Mpungose speaks to the Daily Vox about the challenges of being jobless and his struggle to get an education.

How solving the Eldorado Park housing crisis could keep a family safe

Article Caroline Vakil & Govan Whittles - 10 May 2017

Gauteng human settlements MEC Paul Mashatile says preference for housing will be given to those who applied in 1994.

Eldorado Park protests: ‘Government doesn’t want to build us houses’

Article Caroline Vakil - 8 May 2017

Protesters and police traded bricks for rubber bullets. Rocks and bricks scattered the streets where debris and tyres lay smoking.

Red Location Museum held to ransom

Article Staff Reporter - 21 Apr 2016

The museum has become a white elephant, with local residents accusing the metro of “building a house for dead people” while they live in squalor.

Protesters take on Nyalas in Newclare housing protest

Article Sipho Kings - 6 Oct 2014

It took the sheer presence of police Nyalas to smash apart groups of furious protesters who took over the streets of Newclare yesterday.

SA’s ‘sad story of housing’ – Lindiwe Sisulu

Article bogdan TagDiv - 15 Jul 2014

The housing delivery rate fell by 25% in the past five years and the backlog stands at 2.3-million, said Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

Protester shot dead in Sebokeng

Article Sapa - 5 Feb 2014

A protester has been killed and five arrested for public violence in Sebokeng after a demonstration about a lack of housing.

Where the heart is: South Africa’s post-apartheid housing failure

Article bogdan TagDiv - 2 Aug 2013

Thousands of South Africans earn too much to qualify for an RDP home and too little get a mortgage. Many are losing hope.

Zille suggests turnaround in housing strategy

Article Staff Reporter - 19 Mar 2012

Western Cape premier Helen Zille has told youths that government's housing policy should do 'a little for the many' instead of 'a lot for the few'.

Our people need dignified houses, says Sexwale

Article bogdan TagDiv - 20 Oct 2010

A total of 8 700 human settlement projects are currently under way to eradicate "ugly little <i>pondokkies</i>", Minister Tokyo Sexwale says.

Sexwale tackles housing backlog

Article Staff Reporter - 19 Oct 2010

Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale hopes to address the housing backlog by claiming back old dilapidated buildings and making them habitable.

Zuma teary-eyed over poverty

Article Staff Reporter - 18 May 2010

President Jacob Zuma said he was nearly reduced to tears when he saw a family's living conditions in a shack he visited in Orange Farm, Johannesburg.

vital information

The Mail & Guardian’s essential coverage of the ongoing coronavirus crisis is free to read for everyone.

If you would like to support us, please consider taking out a subscription.

Latest

National

Hopefield: Brutal police vs brutalised citizens

charlene roberts - 4 Aug 2020

The small town’s residents, who say they’ve been terrorised by rogue police officers for years, were unsurprised when Reginald Linnerd was found beaten to death in a holding cell

Coronavirus

Western Cape warned not to be complacent about flat-lining Covid-19 cases

Lester Kiewit - 4 Aug 2020

The Western Cape, which once had the highest number of Covid-19 cases in South Africa, is seeing a steady decline in active cases

National

Sisulu axes another water board

Paddy Harper - 4 Aug 2020

Umgeni Water’s board in KwaZulu-Natal was appointed irregularly by her predecessor, the water and sanitation minister claims

Press Releases

Special Reports

Associate general accountant reveals why she chose to work in the public sector – and stayed

special reports - 4 Aug 2020

Rakshika Danilala is part of the team tasked with auditing the R500-billion fiscal package allocated by government to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic

Special Reports

Accounting for sustainability: A South African case study

special reports - 4 Aug 2020

The accountancy profession has been recognised and seen its models replicated as successful models for projects that contribute towards the SDGs

Special Reports

Debt management amid Covid-19 and beyond

special reports - 3 Aug 2020

This webinar on Debt Management, sponsored by Debt Rescue, had its experts share a practical approach to debt management amid this crisis and beyond

Special Reports

NSTF-South32 Awards

special reports - 2 Aug 2020

All of the awards are made for outstanding contributions to science, engineering, technology and innovation in South Africa

Special Reports

The benefits of being a GEMS member

special reports - 2 Aug 2020

The scheme offers comprehensive and affordable healthcare options to all public service employees and greater access to better healthcare

Special Reports

The evolution of South Africa’s savings culture

special reports - 31 Jul 2020

A common misconception is that you need a lot of money to start saving, but this is simply not true – you can start with R50

Special Reports

Tobacco producers welcome new research confirming that cigarette ban has failed

special reports - 31 Jul 2020

Every day that goes by shows the importance of getting rid of this ban and going back to producing and selling cigarettes as we were before

Special Reports

Cost increases sharing of cigarettes

Eamonn Ryan - 31 Jul 2020

Many people are questioning whether the ban on tobacco in South Africa is not in fact having the opposite effect of that intended