Paper short abstract:

In the light of contemporary policy, this paper aims to look at different key phases in the history of public, or state-constructed housing in South Africa. It will consider the changing ideological context of public housing and the impact of societal goals.

Paper long abstract:

Public, or state-constructed, housing, has been, and continues to be, a massively important phenomenon for a century in South Africa. In the light of contemporary policy (RDP houses, new towns, mixed economic spaces) this paper aims to look at different key phases of this process. Although obviously a reaction to private sector failure in the wake of urbanisation, in fact this paper will look at the changing ideological context of public housing and the impact of societal goals going far beyond provision of worker accommodation. This includes but goes well beyond the familiar racial separation issues. What can housing deliver? This will be considered in terms of the international literature on the history of public housing for parallels and contrasts. The paper will try to integrate findings from different periods and locational spaces, making use of research over many decades