GOOD Statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD Secretary-General Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
23 August 2024
Not a single unit has been built under the Western Cape Inclusionary Housing Policy Framework, despite claims of a government committed to spatial transformation.
During a debate in the Provincial Parliament yesterday, tabled by GOOD, MEC for Local Government Anton Bredell dismally failed to explain how the framework has been implemented in an effective and meaningful manner.
When the provincial Framework was first introduced in 2022, there was no doubt that it was once again a performative announcement, intended to create the illusion of a government that wanted to do something.
This government has a remarkable talent for making promising that something meaningful is happening, but from which no impact or benefit is delivered.
While hundreds of thousands of families live in segregated communities far away from economic opportunities and social amenities, and are desperately waiting for a home they can afford, not a single affordable housing unit has been built in the inner city of Cape Town.
We can now add to that failure – that not as single inclusionary housing unit has been built, nor been mandated, as a consequence of this policy framework.
The reason for that is because that framework was never intended to have any major impact, as it does not mandate inclusionary housing.
No municipality is required to implement it and no property developer is required to deliver an inclusionary housing unit.
If the DA provincial government was serious about spatial transformation, the Framework would be legislation actually enforcing inclusionary housing.
But without mandating it – and for as long as we give away land value enhancing additional development rights – for free – we will never see it being implemented.
Media enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Cell: 0825183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Janke Tolmay, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0733671223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za