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Today, at the Salt River Market site where 970 affordable homes are planned, I launched my fifth pledge to Cape Town to create more opportunities for families to live in well-located, affordable homes.

We will ramp up affordable rental housing in partnership with the private sector, release more City land for affordable housing, upgrade informal settlements, increase taxes on commercial short-term rentals, and protect communities from unlawful land invasions.

Salt River Market shows what this approach delivers.

Over the last five financial years, 12 401 state-subsidised homes have been handed over in Cape Town more than in any other metro, and more than Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni combined.

This project we visited today will provide 300 social-housing rental apartments and 670 affordable-market units on well-located land close to Cape Town’s main economic centre.

Housing gives people a secure place to raise a family, closer to jobs, schools, public transport and opportunity.

But the scale of housing need means government cannot do this alone.

The future of affordable housing lies in making public land available faster, cutting unnecessary delays, and working with credible private and social-housing partners to build at scale.

We want more Capetonians to be able to live closer to opportunity, and more families to have the security and dignity that comes with a place to call home.

That is how we will Take Cape Town forward for all. A safer, cleaner and more affordable city with opportunity for everyone.

Cape Town is showing that, with the right policies, partnerships and determination, government can make measurable progress.

And Cape Town is showing that South Africa can work – for everyone.

Issued by DA Mayoral Candidate for Cape Town Geordin Hill-Lewis -