South Africa

Countries and organizations address the reports presented at the Human Rights Council

Published in Wednesday March 19th, 2014 In News on the Rapporteurs

Read the statements of the 32 countries and 6 organizations that addressed the reports’ presentation.

Despite the state’s violence, our fight to escape the mud and fire of South Africa’s slums will continue

Published in Tuesday November 12th, 2013 In Opinion

Our movement of shack-dwellers – Abahlali baseMjondolo, representing some of South Africa’s poorest people – was formed in 2005 in Durban and now has more than 12,000 members in more than 60 shack settlements. We campaign against evictions, and for public housing: struggling for a world in which human dignity comes before private profit, and land, cities, wealth and power are shared fairly.

South African Constitutional Court affirms tenants’ rights to challenge excessive rents

Published in Monday November 4th, 2013

The South African Constitutional Court issued a groundbreaking decision on this case, brought by ESCR-Net member SERI (South Africa), affirming the rights of tenants to challenge excessive rents and unfair lease terminations. The Court found that the Rental Housing Act forbid private landlords or tenants from engaging in unfair practices, and determined that the term “unfair practice” must be interpreted in light of the right of access to adequate housing contained in the South African Constitution.

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‘Jumping the Queue’, Waiting Lists and other Myths: Perceptions and Practice around Housing Demand and Allocation in South Africa

Published in Friday July 5th, 2013

This report analyses perceptions and practice around housing demand and allocation in South Africa, looking at the policies and processes operating at national, provincial and local level. It attempts to unpack some of the complexity and provide recommendations to government departments at all levels.

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Will Brazil be left counting the cost of hosting the World Cup and Olympics?

Published in Thursday June 13th, 2013 In In the media

BRIC countries have tried to use these mega-events to boost development by accelerating investments in infrastructure and lifting services, governance and local business to international standards. However, the cost to the public purse and the communities affected can be enormous, prompting criticism that the money would be better spent at grassroots level, on improving health and education, rather than on awarding prestige projects to construction companies.

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Security of Tenure Project: know more on the African consultation

Published in Tuesday June 4th, 2013 In News on the Rapporteurs

The Special Rapporteur conducted a consultation, between May 27 and 28, in Johannesburg, on security of tenure for the urban poor in the African continent.

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City finally obeys court

Published in Friday May 3rd, 2013 In In the media

More than 100 residents of a block of flats who were embroiled in a bitter legal battle with the city of Johannesburg have moved into alternative accommodation. Yesterday the last residents of 7 Saratoga Avenue in Berea were moved to BVM, a property owned by the Johannesburg Social Housing Company, and the Ekuthuleni shelter.

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Check our special newsletter on the Security of Tenure Project – Newsletter #33

Published in Thursday April 4th, 2013

In our special newsletter, the Special Rapporteur publicizes the security of tenure report presented to the Human Rights Council in March, as well as the activities scheduled for this semester.

Rapporteur promotes consultations on security of tenure on May

Published in Monday April 1st, 2013 In News on the Rapporteurs

In May, the Rapporteur will conduct two consultations as part of the security of tenure project – one on the 11 in Quito (Ecuador) and another on the 27 and 28 in Johannesburg (South Africa).

Fires Rip Through Cape Town Slum in South Africa

Published in Friday January 4th, 2013 In In the media

At least three people died and thousands were left homeless after several fast-moving fires swept through a crowded slum at the edge of Cape Town on Tuesday, the South African Press Association reported. The fires broke out in a crowded township called Khayelitsha just before dawn, catching many residents as they slept.

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