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Court Forces Cape Town to Rethink Affordable Housing Strategy

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A decade-long housing battle has ended with a major court victory for affordable housing advocates. Cape Town and the Western Cape government must now prove how they will create more housing in well-located areas.

South Africa’s Constitutional Court has ruled that the City of Cape Town and Western Cape government must take stronger action to provide affordable housing in inner-city areas.

The ruling follows a nearly decade-long legal battle over the former Tafelberg School site in Sea Point, which activists argued should be used for social housing.

The decision could reshape housing policy nationwide by requiring governments to address spatial inequality and make affordable homes available closer to jobs and services.

Officials must now submit detailed plans showing how they will expand well-located housing, marking a significant shift in South Africa’s affordable housing landscape.

Read the full story at GroundUp(opens in new tab)

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