The South African Cities Network’s Human Settlements and Housing programme has supported the South African governments initiatives since 1994 in building houses, building human settlements and building urban communities.
Building Houses
Between 1994 and 2003, the government introduced the Reconstruction and Development Plan which was intended to support the building of low-income subsidised housing and to encourage banks to lend to low-income markets, thereby creating unified housing markets.
Building Human Settlements
From 2004 to 2014, the government focused on a “Breaking New Ground” policy, which aimed at developing sustainable human settlements, improving spatial integration and housing assets, and upgrading and eradicating informal settlements.
Building Urban Communities
From 2014 onwards, the government has implemented the National Development Plan which seeks to take a long-term perspective in focusing on spatial integration, sustainability, efficiency and integrated urban settlements.