What is the housing situation like in South Africa today?
I did a mission to South Africa this year. I think the situation there is, of course, affected by a long history of apartheid. But you also have had at least six years after 1994 where there were very progressive policies — perhaps the world’s most progressive constitution, excellent legislation, and some groundbreaking judgments from the constitutional courts on how the right to housing should be implemented by policy makers. But legislators in South Africa have lost their way since 2000-2001. There is a drift that is very evident. The promises of the early years are now in reversal. More and more people are living in marginal areas. Many people not getting civil services. The physical separation of the apartheid years has not been addressed sufficiently. You have a bureaucracy deeply entrenched in power. I was struck by the lack of settlement support, and the lack of access to water, electricity and sanitation. So you have a situation where the housing conditions are still far below
