SA's 2.6-million housing backlog stalled by high land costs, budget cuts
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane says limited availability and high cost of well-located land make it difficult for government to provide alternative housing models like social and affordable rental housing.
South Africa's human settlements minister, Thembi Simelane, cited limited land availability, high land prices, fiscal constraints, and reduced grant funding as obstacles to providing alternative housing models such as social and affordable rental housing in urban areas. The national housing backlog currently stands at approximately 2.6 million units, impacting over 12 million people.
Simelane explained that suitable land near employment centers, transport networks, and social amenities is scarce and expensive, often delayed by land ownership disputes, planning approvals, rezoning, and infrastructure requirements. She attributed the slow delivery to fiscal limits and decreasing grant funding value, while also noting that substantial capital investment is necessary for expanding social housing, affordable rental accommodation, serviced sites, and finance-linked housing.
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