Cape Town does not need another housing show. It needs homes.

Cape Town officials gathered at Century City earlier this week to bring together developers, financiers and housing stakeholders to discuss investment and affordable housing. While the meeting was intended to foster collaboration, critics argue that such gatherings fail to address the urgent need for actual homes. Faiez Jacobs, writing for IOL, emphasized that Cape Town does not need another housing show, it needs homes. Over two decades under the Democratic Alliance (DA) administration, the city has struggled to deliver social and affordable housing at the necessary scale, speed, and affordability to improve the lives of ordinary residents. According to Jacobs, by mid-2025, Cape Town had completed 4,849 social housing units, of which only 855 were located within ten kilometers of the city center. This highlights a persistent issue: the majority of housing initiatives have not been strategically placed to benefit those most in need. The city has outlined approximately 12,000 affordable housing opportunities in its pipeline, yet many of these units remain unallocated, with unclear distinctions between genuinely affordable and market-rate housing. This situation underscores a growing frustration among residents and advocates who argue that the focus on pipelines and land releases has not translated into real outcomes. Jacobs pointed out that the DA has governed Cape Town since 2006, and while some progress has been made, the scale of the housing crisis far exceeds the current response. Hundreds of thousands of people remain on the housing waiting list, while working families face rising costs and young people struggle to enter the housing market. Many individuals are forced to commute long distances due to financial constraints, perpetuating patterns of inequality rooted in historical segregation. These challenges affect a wide range of residents, including domestic workers, nurses, teachers, artisans, and pensioners, people who are not seeking to move into the city but are already part of it. The recent Constitutional Court ruling on the Tafelberg case has added urgency to calls for more effective housing policies. The decision reinforced the city's constitutional duty to address spatial injustice by ensuring that social and affordable housing is accessible in well-located areas. Jacobs stressed that this legal milestone should not be reduced to mere property economics. Public land, he argued, is not just an asset to be sold but a tool for achieving justice. Private capital, while not inherently harmful, must align with public goals and prioritize the needs of ordinary households over profit margins. The discussion around affordability has taken on new significance. Jacobs urged policymakers to start with the perspective of a working household earning between R10,000 and R20,000 per month. What can such a family realistically afford after covering essential expenses? He criticized vague notions of affordability, such as "cheaper than the market" or "below Sea Point prices," arguing that genuine affordability must be measured against the lived realities of ordinary Capetonians. If housing solutions exclude these groups, they are not truly affordable. The debate also raises questions about representation. While developers, banks, and investors are present at meetings like the one in Century City, Jacobs noted that the voices of those directly affected by housing shortages are often absent. This lack of inclusion risks reinforcing existing power imbalances and failing to create meaningful change. As the city continues to grapple with its housing crisis, the challenge lies not just in attracting investment but in ensuring that the results of such efforts translate into tangible improvements for all residents.