3. R32.5 billion price tag to fix Tshwane’s informal settlement crisis

It’s a staggering figure: R32.5 billion. That’s what the City of Tshwane says it needs to upgrade or relocate more than 500 informal settlements across the metro. With nearly 356,000 structures earmarked for in-place upgrades and over 151,000 facing relocation, the housing crisis is deep and growing. The newly approved Informal Settlements Management Policy aims to bring order to rapid urban expansion that accelerated during Covid-19. Phemelo speaks to MMC for Human Settlements Aaron Maluleka about whether this ambitious plan is realistic - and how it will affect residents.