Who Can Afford the City

Examine why housing in high-demand South African cities can become unaffordable even for households with substantial incomes. Consider land and construction costs, interest rates, wages, investment demand, transport access, zoning, infrastructure and the supply of different kinds of homes. Compare policy options such as well-located social housing, denser development, tenant protections and improved public transport, explaining who benefits, who may bear costs and what trade-offs arise. Conclude with a framework a city could use to assess whether its housing market serves a broad range of residents.