FEATURES
Looking at ‘ bad ’ buildings : part 2
In part 1 ( SA Affordable Housing , issue 69 ), we looked at some of the issues surrounding ‘ bad ’, ‘ hijacked ’ or problem buildings in the inner city . With a myriad of definitions and causes attributed to their creation , we look at the solutions .
By Ntsako Khosa
SERI
A complete relook and redesign at bad buildings is required to turn them into a win-win situation for the private sector and residents .
The creation of bad buildings falls both on the private sector and government .
Speaking to the City of Johannesburg and the City of Cape Town , both entities highlight that there are Cityowned problem buildings occupied by residents who couldn ’ t otherwise afford alternative accommodation .
“ Providing affordable housing opportunities closer to where people work or close to public transport is nonnegotiable ,” says Councillor Brett Herron , the City of Cape Town ’ s mayoral committee member for Transport and Urban Development .
“ If architects , city planners , developers and particularly local government can begin to think of these buildings as a real opportunity to design them in a creative way , their current perception could change dramatically ,” says Masters in Architecture graduate and 2015 Corobrik National Architectural Student of the Year award recipient , Hariwe Johnson . Completed at the University of Johannesburg , his award-winning thesis titled ‘ The ‘ Dark ’ City : Critical Interventions in Urban Despair ’ researches and proposes the redesign and redevelopment of these buildings .
DELIVERING HOUSING FOR ALL
Councillor Brett Herron ’ s statement is similarly shared by the private sector and advocacy organisations alike . Socio- Economic Rights Institute of South Africa ( SERI ) works with communities in low income situations .
“ SERI is a public interest law organisation that works on a pro-bono basis ,” says Edward Molopi , researcher and advocacy officer . The organisation operates across three themes namely , securing a home , making a living and expanding political space , “ The work we do [ under theme of securing a home ] revolves around people ’ s access to housing and basic services . We work with inner city communities representing them against evictions that would lead to homelessness ,” he states .
SERI advocates that there needs to be public rental accommodation . “ The state , at provincial or municipal level , or municipally-owned entities have ownership of the properties and offer them for rental at affordable prices ,” says Molopi . Like transitional housing , it offers residents housing with rental charges of less than R800 .
According to the organisation ’ s 2013 report titled ‘ Minding the Gap : An Analysis of the Supply of and Demand
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MAY - JUNE 2018
AFFORDABLE
SA HOUSING