Housing the (radical) everyday
Tariq Toffa, Cape Town Community Manager
With the fall of apartheid, South Africans chose a very specific and unusual path to reconciliation. There were no large-scale erasures or symbolic removals of statues as witnessed with the fall of regimes in other parts of the world. This idea was built into the very fabric of the new constitution: "We, the people of South Africa ... believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity."
But how were South Africans now to "live in it, united," and to what extent have newly created post-apartheid spaces facilitated this inclusive vision?
There are at least four key sites where this question of national unity has found diverse expression: (1) hosting major international sports tournaments (fig. 1); (2) building symbolic monuments to the struggle for freedom and humanity (fig. 2); and (3) themed, market-based private sector developments. Although these moments represent different kinds of post-apartheid spaces, the exceptional and the symbolic should not be misjudged for the ordinary living environments wherein people interact in their daily lives.

Housing, the fourth site, therefore has a critical role to play. However, social/racial integration is not an explicit policy goal, and the design of the scale of the neighborhood and human interaction still remains poorly understood and articulated. Moreover, government officials tend to interpret 'integration' largely in economic terms (accommodating lower income groups, development, and access to amenities). These oversights all do little to encourage new integrated social spaces and identities, with local meaning (as opposed to grand, national narratives).
The urban form of 'Social housing', for example, with its higher densities and potential to integrate rental accommodation for lower income groups within well-located areas, can potentially facilitate both physical and social integration. These concerns were important priorities in a recently completed social housing project in Cape Town, called Steen Villa (fig. 3, 4). The project consists of 700 units in two to three storey walk-ups, clustered in groups of 20-35 units around courtyard spaces. The courtyards were specifically designed for everyday activities and neighborliness (play, socializing, washing, etc.), and a degree of racial integration was also achieved with a tenant mix of approximately 60 percent colored, 39 percent black, and a small number of white and Indian residents. Still further initiatives taken for racial and tenant integration also included a 'Good Neighbor Charter', football and netball teams, a pensioners' club, Women's Day celebrations, a job placement program, and a neighborhood watch.
Balancing security requirements with open continuity in the urban fabric, the courtyards are able to be fully secured, while the streets were designed to be public and integrative. A large road reserve was also turned into a public park, and the units edging an adjacent train station was rezoned for future mixed-use potential. Although some of the initial positive intentions were not realized, the project is evidence that creative measures can be taken for (social, physical, and economic) cohesion and integration despite existing limitations of circumstances, (too often constraints are self-imposed).
In summary, apartheid was a spatial praxis. It aimed to radically shape everything in people's lives; from where one was born, schooled, lived, worked, married, and would be buried. Anti-apartheid activism was its counter, for many a cutting across of race groups that was learned in practice. In both instances the everyday was qualitatively articulated. Thus, change today cannot be left to the purview of theatre and spectacle alone, nor reduced to a provision of services. Real change begins at home, in the spaces of the radical everyday. Close.
Photo credits: Fig. 1: Rugby World Cup, 1995 (Ross Kinnaird, Empics). Fig. 2: Freedom Park, Pretoria (Clive Hassel). Fig 3-4: Steen Villa, Cape Town (Author).
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Comments
Formalising bottom-up planning?
Carlin, interesting read about the People's Vision for Mumbai. Sounds like a great initiative, though I'm sure facing several challenges. Unni mentions that the consultations etc. on the DP are (unsurprisingly) not mandated in the MR&TP act; I wonder if you are aware of any efforts to formalise consultation/participation into the process? While having the right to participate and/or be consulted of course by no means ensures consultation/participation happens or that it is meaningful, it can nevertheless be used as a reference point to demand that right.
Consultations in DP
Nora, very good point, and it's something I'm sure this group would advocate for, if they aren't already. Since the DP happens only ever 20 years, it's seems to me just as important to think about how this group's efforts can be harnessed in the intervening years. It's rare to have so many different sectors come together in the city, even though the issues are so often very inter-related. It's even rarer to have the officials take notice of these groups. It will take some effort to keep this momentum going.
The city of Lagos' tenancy and home ownership schemes
The housing deficit prevalent in the city of Lagos cannot be address by HOMS initiated by the Lagos state government because the influx of Nigerians seeking greener pasture in the economic capital state of Nigeria increases geometrically than the number of housing provided by the governor. Historically, the failure of the Jakande estate to address the housing deficit when the population growth in Lagos is not high compare to the 2000s indicates that HOMS cannot address the problem. For the housing problem to be address, the federal government must embark on even development of the country so that residents in each state will be engaged in productive work. Also, the Lagos state government can partner near-by state to build satellite towns to absorb the excess population in Lagos state.
Housing: A challenge amongst other social issues
Damilare, thanks for your inputs.You are very right the issue of housing goes beyond the state government, given that its a challenge emanating from other social issues which are not necessarily concentrated in Lagos. People come to Lagos in droves. The state is trying to tackle this as best within its capacity hence the home ownership schemes. Where I would have loved to see better planning was in the execution of the scheme towards targeting the low middle income and poor which recently they seem to be doing. I recently heard the scheme now has a hire-purchase element to it that allows people rent-to own the property, an improvement that definitely works better fo rteh current challenges. I suppose the city could put more pressure at officials at the national level to ease the strains you have spoken about.
Vivienda como estrategia urbana.
Ana Cristina, coincido totalmente en que la vivienda es un elemento fundamental que determina cómo las ciudades se expanden en el territorio; pues bien no solo es dotar de un techo a los habitantes, sino que las viviendas estén conectadas a las zonas en donde se encuentran los servicios básicos, infraestructura de transporte, que sean zonas fuera de riesgo de desastres naturales, etc. Al igual que en Caracas, la Ciudad de México vive la misma problemática en donde la expansión de la mancha urbana se desarrolló dependiendo de la oferta y demanda de vivienda sin integrar una lógica de planeación; en este sentido hoy nos encontramos con la misma dificultad en donde ya no hay donde generar vivienda nueva que albergue a la población vulnerable o a la que se encuentra asentada de manera informal. Un gran reto de las ciudades es identificar alternativas innovadoras que contemple en donde albergar a toda la población sin comprometer los demás factores de las ciudades.
Gracias por tu comentario
Gracias por tu comentario María Fernanda. Estoy de acuerdo contigo, pero pienso que el reto de las ciudades es urbanizar, no crear viviendas para albergar familias que deben viajar horas para buscar trabajo y prefieren vivir en los asentamientos informales dentro de las grandes ciudades.
Community slum mapping — a housing solution? Gemma Todd
Hello Gemma,
Great article on Dar Essalam crisis and informal housing issue, as we have here in Cairo. Slums mapping is great idea, however, is there a real strategy developed by the government and civil society to take this mapping to further stage, i.e. improving the slums status, legalizing houses, creating utility networks for the slums for healthier accommodations...etc
I believe it is very important to have a comprehensive strategy in this case, starting with mapping and ends with implementation plan for better housing conditions.
Thank you,
Bringing in CSO and Governments
Hey Shaima, thanks for your response, I completely agree! In order to think about scaling up the idea of community mapping as a effective solution the government needs to think about utilising it as a tool for inclusive housing, which requires them changing how they see slums in the first place. At the moment there are no specific government initiatives to show that the strategy has been implemented, but I have provided a link below which provides some hope. I have attached a link to Slum Dwellers International and a article was written in January on 'getting to know your city' through data and mapping. The article discusses a meeting that took place last year, inviting East African stakeholders to discuss the theme of Community Profiling for Urban Planning. One of the conclusions is stated nicely in the SDI article, it states how the stakeholders (including government officials) recognised the positives of improving data and the our understanding of the city for effective planning, and also how the data would provide a basis for creating trust at multiple scales (governments to communities). However, what is worrying is the fact there hasn't been little development since. There needs to be more capacity building in communities and CSOs to carry out such tasks and hold governments accountable to such solutions, and promises they make to include communities in discussions on housing and service provision. One of the issue is how can plans progress in Tanzania. There are frequent meetings, but progress to the next stage, to effective implementation, has been limited. Which is a question of both what is going on the ground, and why are governments taking the time to push to the next stage.
Heres the link: http://www.sdinet.org/blog/categories/tanzania/
Thanks Shaima! Do you know of any cases where they use slum mapping in Cairo?
Additional - Urban Governance
Also Shaima, this link may be of relevance. The LSE recently collaborated with UN-Habitat and UCLG to complete research into urban governance. The objectives of the survey was: how to counteract the data challenge of cities today in order to think about improving urban governance, and to explore how to communicate and map urban governance for public dissemination, comparative policy and research analysis. If CSO's, CBOs, and communities themselves, utilise slum mapping it could form a basis for improving urban governance.
Inclusive Housing - Common themes
There are consistent themes across the articles. First, where the projects on affordable housing are yet to be implemented or are in the process of, institutional roadblocks seems to be the biggest hurdle. There is entry of private sector but fear of systematic land grab under the guise of affordable housing. Second, most of the schemes have been unsuccessful in the integration of community participation inspite of the need and desire for participatory democracy. Third, provision of housing isn’t enough and basic services and transport accessibility are important factors in making affordable housing schemes successful.
Successful case studies such as one of Janaadhar in Bangalore, CCODE in Lilongwe, UDRI in Mumbai and INVI in Mexico provide valuable lessons. Having successfully implemented participatory processes to draft vision and needs of the community, they are now working out solutions to provide better quality of construction and finance mechanism that make the provision of affordable housing sustainable over a longer period.
Mapping of slums in Cairo
Dear Gemma,
Thanks for your response. So, I believe now the mapping of informal areas is just a start and as you stated, what is worrying is the lack of progress in this regard. I believe even if CBOs get some capacity building and relevant training, without the government bodies involvement, it will be hard for those NGOs to proceed on their own. In Cairo, there are many initiatives for mapping of the informal areas. For example, Council of Ministers -Center of information and Decision Making conducted an inclusive study and precise mapping on those areas of more than 400 pages. You may check it here http://www.idsc.gov.eg/Publications/PublicationDetails.aspx?typeid=1&id=47 although it is in Arabic language. Some development happened during Mubarak regime, when the ex-first woman of Egypt adopted one local informal area called Zeinhom and at the same district she changed the utilities network for the houses there, ordered for building new modern buildings for the same people living there, ordered to establish a park at the same slum area and a library. The people of the slum were accommodation in new economic apartments for low consideration. So, as in Dar Essalam as in Egypt, government should proceed faster and without government real engagement, it would be hard for any party to step up. Looking forward to read your new article :)
Macro proyectos en Bogotá
Jorge, me parece muy interesante tu artículo sobre los macro proyectos en Bogotá. Me pregunto si ayudaría que hubiesen pensando en ofrecer viviendas para distintos grupos sociales y así generar diversidad y quizás oportunidades de trabajo dentro del desarrollo de vivienda que parece una pequeña ciudad. Igual me pregunto por qué el desarrollo no busca apoyarse en los servicios existentes de Soacha y el gobierno invertir en servicios básicos para toda la zona. Al tener distintas ofertas de vivienda un grupo podría pagar algo de plusvalía para ayudar al desarrollo de la infraestructura.
Participation is the key
Informal settlements mushroomed as people get in the city to find a living. And because informal settlements always unavoidable sometimes the government prepare less in anticipating the consequences. Several articles already mentioned how important community participation in planning process and identification of what they need as happened in Lilongwe or when people get involved in drafting Development Plan process in Mumbai. Participation is a vital element but always forgotten intentionally or unintentionally. In a country such as Indonesia, participation has been acknowledge within national development process regulation but the degree of participation is still questionable, and only few cities, as Ana’s stated, think housing as urbanization strategy.
With regard to housing mortgage, the current scheme in Indonesia allows people from middle-income families to have housing but not people from informal settlements that’s why government build social housing or flats with very low price for them to stay. Bank only has little involvement in this matter. That’s why I really interested in Vietnam case, how is the Bank response with the new policy and how do targeted communities react? is there any private developer involved in this scheme?
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