On 5 September 2018, STBB hosted approximately 600 members of the Western
Cape property development community at the CTICC for an evening of hard-hitting
presentations and thought-provoking debate.
The keynote speaker for the evening was Adv. Thuli Madonsela who addressed the
(Land) Expropriation Bill. Other speakers included Jonty Cogger from Ndifuna
Ukwazi addressing inclusionary housing, Brett Herron from the City of Cape Town
addressing the city’s affordable housing policy and Manfred Braune from the Green
Building Council of South Africa addressing the need for and benefits of building
green. The evening was chaired by 702’s Bongani Bingwa.
Adv. Madonsela stated that certainty in terms of property and section 25 of the
Constitution is required and that the Expropriation Bill will provide such certainty.
“Certainty is essential to the rule of law and will assist investors in anticipating
risks”, Madonsela said. She pointed out that, once this certainty comes, we will
know once and for all exactly which farmland and which development land would
fall outside the criteria for expropriation. Hopefully, any unlawful expropriation will
then also cease.
In his presentation, Jonty Cogger from Ndifuna Ukwazi highlighted that, over the
past year, his organisation has objected to exclusive and unaffordable private
developments across Cape Town on the grounds that they do not advance the
principle of spatial justice as required by the Spatial Planning and Land Use
Management Act 16 of 2013 (SPLUMA). Cogger pointed out that these developments
perpetuate apartheid spatial planning in that they are not inclusive in terms of race
and class.
Brett Herron spoke to one of the City of Cape Town’s greatest challenges – the
provision of affordable housing. Herron said: “My team has driven a turnaround
strategy for housing over the last 18 months, almost doubling delivery within two
years. Government must deliver faster and in better locations, because where
people live matters. Building large scale free basic housing on the outskirts of cities
entrenches apartheid era spatial and economic exclusion patterns, whereas well
located state-owned land or a contribution from new large private developments
can help develop inclusive neighbourhoods and cities.”
From looking after our society, to looking after our environment, Manfred Braune
from the Green Building Council of South Africa, pointed out that it has become
critical to design, construct and operate buildings that are energy efficient,
resource efficient and environmentally responsible. “Green Buildings offer us a
fantastic opportunity to save energy and water, reduce waste, cut down on
greenhouse gas emissions, conserve natural resources; all while creating healthier
and more productive spaces that tenants want to occupy”, said Braune. He went on
to say that: “Green building is on the rise – in 2018, the four largest cities in South
Africa are committing to transform the property sector, such that all new
developments by 2030 will need to be Net Zero Carbon buildings.”
