Episode

The Constitution Promises Housing… So Why Are South Africans Still Fighting Evictions?

Podcast
Democracy Unplugged
Published
Apr 1, 2026
Duration seconds
1952
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Canonical source
https://iono.fm/e/1662131
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https://dl.iono.fm/epi/prov_3631/epi_1662131_medium.m4a?p=rss
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Summary

Nearly 30 years into democracy, why are housing rights still being fought for in court? Housing is a constitutional right in South Africa, yet for millions of people it remains out of reach. In this episode, Phumi Mashigo sits down with Nomzamo Zondo, Executive Director: Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) to unpack the reality behind evictions, informal settlements, and the widening gap between what the Constitution promises and what people actually experience. From court battles that prevent families from losing their homes to the slow pace of government delivery, the conversation explores why housing rights are still being fought for in court, the tension between law, policy and real-life implementation, and how informal settlements continue to shape the country’s cities. At its core, it asks a critical question: if the Constitution is clear, why are so many South Africans still without secure housing? The Burning Platform