Cape Town's elderly forgotten in housing crisis

After decades of waiting for a proper home, senior citizens in Ravensmead, the Cape Flats, and Bellville feel increasingly forgotten by the system. 

Many have been relegated to living in cramped backyard structures, their hopes for stable housing dashed as their applications languish unresolved.

The province's housing backlog has been a pressing issue for years, leaving countless residents to grapple with the harsh realities of renting, relocating far from their families, or enduring substandard living conditions. For the elderly, these prolonged delays have inflicted a heavy toll—physically, emotionally, and financially—casting a shadow over their golden years and raising urgent questions about the state of housing justice in the region.

Urban land researcher, Michael Clarke, from the Development Action Group (DAG), confirmed that many people have waited decades for state-subsidised housing.

He said a lack of transparency in housing lists makes it unclear how effectively the system prioritises those who have waited the longest.

"Because of this, there is very little confidence and trust from the public in the allocation process," Clarke said. "Many people have been waiting for years, and sometimes even decades, without any clarity."

He added that the scale of state-subsidised housing delivery is simply not sufficient. "The number of houses being built has been decreasing year on year. We are seeing fewer and fewer homes delivered by the state," he said.

Clarke also noted that both the city and the state own land across Cape Town that could be used for affordable housing. "Some of that land is definitely suitable. It is very important for the city to identify and release it for housing development," he said.

For Christine Arendse, 62, from Bellville South in Ward 9, the wait has stretched to 27 years. She applied for a house in 1999 and still lives in a Wendy House in someone else’s backyard, separated from her family and loved ones.

"I am unable to provide a stable home for my family," Arendse said. "Mentally, I cannot take it anymore. Living as a backyard dweller has had a serious impact on my health. My stress levels are high, and my hypertension often spikes because of this."

She said there is little to no communication from the city regarding her application, forcing her to repeatedly visit the Civic Centre for updates. During her last visit, she said she was told officials were still processing applications from 1994.

Lucy Adams, 45, from Ravensmead, said she has lived as a backyard dweller for as long as she can remember. Born and raised in the area, she said constant moving and unstable living conditions have defined her life.

Adams has been on the waiting list for nine years. "We struggle to collect water and we don’t have electricity," she said. “We have lived under these conditions for years while waiting for a house."

She currently lives in a makeshift "hokkie" with her daughter, who has a disability, after their Wendy House burned down.

Adams said her daughter often misses school due to illness caused by their living environment and the lack of sanitation.

For Brenda Heyns, 54, 2026 will mark her 16th year on the housing waiting list. She has spent most of her adult life living as a backyard dweller.

After her Wendy house was destroyed in a fire, Heyns said she was forced to rely on food parcels and donations from the church and community, with no support from the city.

"The fire took everything," she said. "We didn’t even have building material and had to rely on the community. No councillor came to see us. No one from the department offered help or information about shelter."

Heyns, who has a doctor’s note recommending urgent assistance following injuries sustained in the fire, now lives with her pensioner husband, separated from her grandchildren and loved ones.

According to the City of Cape Town, approximately 400,000 applicants are currently registered on the Housing Needs Register and are still awaiting housing opportunities.

Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Carl Pophaim, said the city is doing everything it can to deliver housing despite numerous challenges.

"We are delivering housing opportunities to the most vulnerable and have several projects in progress and in advanced planning stages," Pophaim said.

He added that there is no fixed waiting period for housing allocation, as it depends on availability and whether applicants qualify when opportunities arise. "Each project has different dynamics, including project size and the application date range," he said.

Responding to claims that areas like Ravensmead and the Cape Flats are neglected, Pophaim said beneficiaries are selected in line with the city’s Housing Allocation Policy to ensure fairness and prevent queue jumping.

Clarke, however, reiterated that unlocking well-located public land remains critical. "The land exists," he said. "What’s needed now is decisive action to release it for affordable housing."

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