{
  "id": 16773446,
  "title": "POLITICALLY AWEH: What each party says about SA’s housing crisis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/politically-aweh-what-each-party-says-about-sas-housing-crisis",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-27T17:48:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-27-what-each-party-says-about-sas-housing-crisis/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Six political party representatives debated South Africa's housing crisis before the November local elections. Each party had its own perspective on building more homes, addressing spatial apartheid, and regulating short-term rentals.\n\nEddie Andrews of the DA said the city needs 30,000 new homes annually, advocating for private sector investment. Cameron Dugmore of the ANC proposed rezoning inner city buildings to 20 floors and auditing state land quickly. Dereleen James of ActionSA and the EFF wanted audits in 99 and 99 days, respectively, plus title deeds over leases. Songezo Zibi of Rise Mzansi proposed metros buy land, provide serviced plots, and build for those who couldn't afford homes. Dr Corné Mulder of the FF+ argued municipalities couldn't afford to build everything, advocating serviced plots and social housing. Mofokeng of the EFF said the party would clear existing housing backlogs, formalise informal settlements, and provide infrastructure to make the cities habitable.\n\nOn spatial apartheid, Andrews said it was true, while other parties called it \"propaganda\". James likened it to gang violence, Zibi said distance from jobs was the problem, and Mofokeng emphasized mixed-income neighbourhoods. Regarding rent control, Andrews dismissed it, while James and others called for limits on middle- and low-income earners' housing costs.\n\nThe parties discussed what went wrong in Cape Town's housing market, with James blaming a tourist focus, Zibi blaming rampant capitalism, and Dugmore blaming developers over those needing housing.",
  "summary": "Before the 4 November local elections, we asked six political party representatives the same questions about South Africa’s housing crisis, using Cape Town as a case study. We asked them about everything from Airbnb and foreign buyers to spatial apartheid and rent control. Here’s how their answers stack up in episode one of our Elections Showdown.",
  "key_points": [
    "DA's Eddie Andrews proposes 30,000 new homes annually with private sector investment",
    "ANC's Cameron Dugmore suggests rezoning inner city buildings to 20 floors and auditing state land",
    "ActionSA/EFF's Dereleen James calls for audits in 99 days and title deeds over leases"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}