The Africa Centre for Cities (UCT) in partnership with the African Centre recently hosted a debate series, the Cape Futures Public Debate Series at the Spier Estate in Stellenbosch, Cape Town.
The first debate addressed a common challenge in developing countries, namely slum eradication. The aptly titled first debate, ‘Is Slum Eradication the Right Policy Objective’ asked whether the discourse on slum eradication helps or hinders the production of vibrant integrated and sustainable cities and towns.
Key discussants included Dr Dan Smit (Advisor to the Minister of Housing), Mr Mokena Makeka (Makeka Design Lab) and Moegsien Hendricks Programme Director, Development Action Group) with moderation by Prof Edgar Pieterse.
Doctor Adrian Hadland of the HSRC attended the launch of the Africa Centre for Cities and shares interesting perspectives on the workshop here…
Experts at this Conference called on government to rather keep the shacks and upgrade them as one way of addressing the serious housing challenge faced by South Africa.
According to Moegsien Hendricks of Development Action Group, “We need to look at things differently.” Building on this and as shared by Doctor Hadland “This had prompted scholars and activists to confront a number of questions surrounding current housing policy. For instance, is focusing all our energy on building houses the most appropriate use of resources? Is it possible for informal dwellings self-built by the poor to be spaces and places of beauty and dignity? Or, should we be providing support for the upgrading of shacks rather than just tearing them down?”
As one considers our urban landscapes and how they are developing the question of creating integrated and sustainable cities becomes more and more important. How do we ensure that by 2020 shack-dwellers circumstances are improved? Debates such as these create valuable opportunities for those interested in this pressing development challenge to contribute and share opinions. More importantly it is hoped that these dialogue sessions create the space for solutions to this development challenge to be thrashed out with firm commitments to turning ideas into action.
