To combat deepening urban inequality, Ndifuna Ukwazi focuses on advancing and giving practical meaning to the intersecting constitutional rights of access to land on an equitable basis (section 25(5)), and the right to adequate housing (section 26).
One of the greatest challenges to realising a more just, equal and and inclusive city is that the state – at all levels – has not meaningfully restructed society to address the effects of colonial and apartheid era planning through the redistribution of well-located land for the development of affordable housing. Since 2016, we have worked with partners to challenge decisions concerning the use of strategically located parcels of land and buildings that are vacant, underutilised or used inefficiently or in a manner that perpetuates colonial and apartheid era planning.
We support the need for broadened access to land through public campaigns and strategic litigation aimed at compelling the state to meet its obligations to make land available on an equitable basis, and advance spatial justice through the use of well-located land for the development of affordable housing. We simultaneously advocate for truly affordable inclusionary housing in private developments.
Through this work we aim to shift the public imagination towards acting on a more just and equal society, and contribute to restructuring our city.