Development Action Group

In Mew Way, water was pooling. In Emsindweni, a tap kept breaking. In Green Point Phase 3, a toilet sat blocked. The Asivikelane task teams showed up. 🚰🤝🪠

In Ward 95, the Mew Way Community Plumbing team repaired a tap and quickly identified a blocked drain that was causing water to pool. Despite not having the appropriate tools for communal infrastructure, the team took it in turns to use a household plunger and successfully cleared the blockage - an example of the persistence and problem-solving that sustains these systems day to day.

In Emsindweni, Ward 6, the team went further, constructing a standpipe and drainage system from scratch. Noticing that taps were breaking under pressure from residents placing buckets on the tap heads, they built a barrier around the drainage area to address both pooling and pressure in a single intervention.

In Green Point Phase 3, the team repaired a blocked toilet, installed a new cistern, and proactively cleaned the facilities, paving the way for more proactive and effective repairs and maintenance.

Basic services in informal settlements are not a luxury. These teams are proof that when communities are equipped and supported, they don't just respond to what they're called out for; they look at the wider conditions around them and find solutions.

What does it actually take to get a small-scale development approved in Cape Town? 🏘️

On the 2nd of June, DAG’s Contractor and Developer Academy hosted a breakfast session for built environment professionals, architects, town planners, project managers, contractors, and representatives from the City of Cape Town’s Local Planning Support unit.

Facilitated by Pete Ahmad, the session focused on the small-scale development approval process, identifying challenges and opportunities to improve interdepartmental coordination and turnaround times. Participants discussed how better alignment between land-use applications and building development management could reduce delays and improve predictability for affordable rental housing projects.

Three key themes emerged from the peer-to-peer exchange. First, clearer roles and responsibilities are needed among property owners, built environment professionals, and municipal departments. Second, there are meaningful opportunities for additional training and capacity building for practitioners dealing with these processes. Third, establishing a collective platform would allow built environment professionals to raise recurring challenges, share lessons learned, and push for more consistent implementation across the City.

This kind of dialogue between practitioners and the City is not a nice-to-have. For small-scale developers working to expand the supply of affordable rental housing in Cape Town, it is essential.

🔗 dag.org.za

Salt River Market Site Handover: A Step Forward for Affordable Housing and for Just Relocation 🏡👥⚖️

On the 8th of June, the City of Cape Town officially handed the Salt River Market site over to social housing developers, Communicare, marking an important step towards land release that moves beyond declarations and delivers on-the-ground affordable housing solutions.

This handover also marked the close of a relocation process for the 70 households who had been living on the site. Over the last several years DAG has focused on supporting a voluntary, dignified relocation for these households, grounded in the development of forward-thinking solutions that are informed by the lived experiences, livelihood strategies, and needs of the residents affected.

While this was not a simple or a perfect process, we believe that this relocation demonstrated what can be possible when residents, civil society and state work together to develop attainable, informed, people-centered solutions. In a City that has often relocated the urban poor to the periphery, this relocation process took steps to set powerful precedents for location, structure and services, that could chart a path forward for more just relocations in the future.

The Salt River Market case illustrates that more just, well-located housing outcomes are possible, and must become the norm, not the exception.

🔗 Read more here: https://novanews.co.za/peoplespost/salt-river-market-set-for-housing-transformation-in-cape-town/

Salt River Market set for housing transformation in Cape Town Salt River Market set for transformation as City of Cape Town approves 970 affordable housing units in major inner-city redevelopment drive.

Building Opportunity: Contractors Connect, Learn, and Grow at Firgrove Expo 🏗

More than 70 contractors, developers, and entrepreneurs from across Cape Town gathered in Firgrove last week for a Construction and Property Development Expo hosted by DAG in partnership with the Firgrove Economic Development Group.

The expo brought together a diverse network of organisations committed to supporting enterprise development within the construction and property development sector.

Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the Building Industry Bargaining Council (BIBC), FEM, SARS, the Department of Employment and Labour, the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure, the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the City of Cape Town's Business Hub, The National Business Initiative (NBI), IETI College, SANParks, COROBRIK, Utility Revenue System, Absa Small Business Development, and Remax - Impact.

Together, these stakeholders shared valuable information on compliance requirements, business development support, skills development opportunities, funding pathways, procurement opportunities, and resources available to help businesses grow and thrive. We were particularly excited to welcome the new stakeholders' participants this year, broadening the range of opportunities and support available to local enterprises.

The impact of the day was reflected in the conversations, connections, and positive feedback received from both attendees and stakeholders. As the City of Cape Town Business Hub shared: "Thank you very much for the opportunity to showcase and speak about our services at this event. The information shared was well received and the 18 clients that visited our stand have been duly assisted with their enquiries as promised."

While the expo may be over, the journey continues. Attendees are now being connected to support programmes, advisory services, training opportunities, compliance assistance, and business development initiatives that can help them strengthen and grow their enterprises.

Through DAG's Contractor and Developer Academy, we remain committed to walking alongside emerging contractors and developers as they navigate the challenges and opportunities within the sector.

For DAG, events such as these demonstrate the power of partnerships in creating meaningful access to information, opportunities, and support. When industry stakeholders, government departments, financial institutions, and development organisations come together, we create stronger pathways for inclusive economic participation and sustainable business growth.

This is only the beginning, we are already planning the next round of expos and stakeholder engagement events, with upcoming activities in George, Johannesburg, and additional locations across Cape Town.

Thank you to every stakeholder, exhibitor, presenter, partner, and attendee who contributed to making the day a success. Together, we are building stronger businesses, stronger contractors, and stronger communities.

This is what climate action looks like 🤝🚮🚛

Across Cape Town and Knysna, Asivikelane task teams marked National Environment Month by taking hands-on action in their communities, leading clean-up campaigns, improving infrastructure, and working collaboratively to foster healthier living environments.

In Ward 93 and 96, community members came together for a two-day clean-up campaign in Town 2. They cleared waste around sanitation facilities to enable inspections and repairs, reported overflowing sewerage drains, distributed rat poison to nearby households, and installed two new taps, demonstrating how local action can directly improve everyday living conditions.

In Knysna, teams led by Nokuthembela, Sethu, Nosisa and others worked across settlements including Riverside, Khayelethu Valley, Nkandla Greenfield, and Hard en Loop. In just a few days, they filled over 80 bags of waste, collected through strong community–municipality collaboration.

In Soccer Valley, community members cleaned a local ditch and cared for a garden they created in response to illegal dumping, demonstrating ongoing commitment to their shared spaces.

These efforts go beyond clean-ups. They are acts of leadership, resilience, and environmental justice, illustrating that climate action isn’t just global, it’s local, collective, and already in motion 🍃🌍

"We can do the work, but we cannot access the finance." 🤝🏗️📈

This is the message DAG's Contractor and Developer Academy has consistently heard from emerging contractors across Cape Town. It is also the challenge that DAG Project Officer Nosive Ngcawe addresses directly in a newly published op-ed in Engineering News.

Writing in response to the launch of the R300 million Construction Fund by the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) in partnership with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), Nosive argues that while the fund is a welcome development, its success will depend entirely on how it is designed and implemented.

The article argues that if the fund uses only commercial lending criteria, many intended beneficiaries will remain excluded. This is not due to a lack of capability, but because their operating environments make traditional creditworthiness hard to prove.

A developmental, sector-sensitive approach to risk assessment is needed, one that considers irregular income, delayed payments, and limited credit histories common among emerging contractors in South Africa.

Nosive emphasises that the "D" in CIDB is important. South Africa needs institutions that do more than regulate; it needs institutions that actively support the growth and long-term sustainability of the contractors who will build the country's infrastructure.

Read the full op-ed via the link below.
🔗 https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/construction-fund-offers-opportunity-to-unlock-growth-for-emerging-contractors-2026-06-03

Construction Fund offers opportunity to unlock growth for emerging contractors By: Nosive Ngcawe - Development Action Group Project Officer The launch of the R300 million Construction Fund by the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA), in partnership with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), has been widely welcomed across South Africa’s const...

Is Cape Town’s real estate boom hiding a critical housing crisis? 🏘️

A new preliminary report from Ndifuna Ukwazi, The Financialisation of Housing in Cape Town, warns that treating housing primarily as a financial asset rather than a home is actively destabilising the city’s housing system.

Last week, DAG’s Zama Mgwatyu and Michael Clark attended the publication launch and the post-launch strategy discussion. The report proposes a range of concrete policy interventions, including stricter regulation of short-term rentals, an economies-of-scale tax on corporate landlords, rent control tied to local incomes, and community-led alternatives like Community Land Trusts.

The report does not suggest that financialisation is the sole cause of Cape Town’s housing problems but highlights that without addressing the financial roots of housing insecurity, the crisis will persist. The full report will be released in June.

Cities are ever-evolving. The state, private sector, civil society, and developers must respond to that reality together. DAG continues to collaborate with sector partners like Ndifuna Ukwazi to develop lasting housing solutions that serve all South Africans.

🔗 dag.org.za

Can South Africans actually afford to live in Cape Town and the Western Cape? 🏘🏙💰

Last week, DAG’s Programme Director, Helen Rourke, took part in a panel discussion hosted by the Western Cape Property Developers Forum, joining Cape Town’s Executive Deputy Mayor, Eddie Andrews, and property experts David Cohen and Colin Strumpher to discuss the affordability crisis facing the province.

The event began by laying out a stark contrast: the national average property price is R1.6 million, yet in the Western Cape it rises to R2.3 million, creating one of the steepest barriers to entry nationwide. These are not merely statistics; they represent the structural exclusion of the majority of South Africans from the province's formal property market.

What emerged clearly from the panel discussion is the fact that affordability is not simply a matter of property costs. It is a structural issue linked to infrastructure that is not keeping pace with demand, public transit networks that remain weak, and insufficient densification in the parts of the city with the highest need. Building entirely new housing stock will not solve this crisis alone; there also needs to be a parallel focus on reducing the cost of existing housing and unlocking value in secondary property market transactions.

Crucially, the room recognised that there are no silver-bullet solutions. Cities are ever-evolving organisms. The sector, state, civil society, and property developers need to be genuinely responsive to that reality together, rather than waiting for a single solution.

What is needed is a suite of complementary, interlocking interventions and solutions shaped to the Western Cape context. That's where we come in.

🔗 dag.org.za

Developing Cape Town's next generation of affordable housing developers 🏘️

On the 23rd of May, DAG's Contractor and Developer Academy completed the final lecture series for the current cohort of the Small-Scale Developer Programme, with graduation set for the 6th of June.

The session hosted three expert speakers: Dr Amanda Filtane from the University of Cape Town, who shared insights on construction management; Nomfundo Molemohi
from uMaStandi, who spoke on finance mechanisms; and David Beattie from the Chorus Property Group, who unpacked property development considerations.

Participants' feedback reflects the programme's objectives. "We have gained insights into the processes around finance, property management, development, compliance, and professionals in the industry that I wasn't aware of before," said one participant. "If you are interested in the industry, this is the best place to start."

This is the gap that DAG's CDA works to close, supporting small-scale developers in building the knowledge and skills they need to deliver viable, sustainable property developments and, in doing so, expanding the supply of affordable rental housing in Cape Town's townships.

Congratulations to this cohort on their upcoming graduation. We look forward to celebrating with them on the 6th of June.

🔗 dag.org.za

Are you a contractor or property developer in George? 👷🏽‍♂️🏗️

Join us at this exciting expo co-hosted by DAG, where we’ll unpack key opportunities and insights to support your growth in the industry.

🚧 YOU’RE INVITED: CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT EXPO 2026 🏗️

Calling all SMMEs, contractors, developers, suppliers, and built environment professionals!

Join us for a day of networking, business opportunities, industry insights, and engagement with key stakeholders in the construction and development sector.

📍 Venue: Conville Community Hall, George
📅 Date: Thursday, 18 June 2026
⏰ Time: 09:00 – 14:00
🎟️ Entry: FREE (Registration essential)

✅ Event Highlights:

• Compliance & Municipal Services
• Funding & Enterprise Support
• Business & Supplier Opportunities
• Construction & Property Development Insights
• Exhibition Stalls & Service Desks
• Networking & Industry Connections

📌 Register before 8 June 2026:
Register here, RSVP link: Attendee Registration: Business Expo – Fill out form
or
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=tRDxFKblTECgygzvaOgMy8Wh8-YDU4JKtNTLIfj_-KpUNE00QjhQNE9OQzFZQzAwOUozWVRFUVBZNy4u&route=shorturl

For more information contact Lizalise Dodi:
📞 044 801 9212
📧 [email protected]