City of Cape Town's R125.6m tenders aim to boost affordable housing development

The City of Cape Town has issued four new land-release tenders with a combined estimated value of about R125.6 million (excluding VAT) for affordable, residential-led mixed-use developments on well-located parcels of land in Brackenfell, Ottery and Lansdowne.

The tenders form part of the City’s affordable housing programme and are aimed at attracting private-sector partners to develop investment-ready sites close to amenities and public transport. The City said all due process and public participation requirements would continue to be followed where required.

The programme is driven by public-private partnerships, with City-owned land packaged and de-risked to encourage market participation while expanding access to affordable housing. All neighbourhoods with surplus City land are assessed for potential release, with the goal of delivering housing opportunities near economic nodes and transport corridors.

The City said it was bringing rezoned, bankable properties to the market, aligned with its affordable housing objectives. Land-price discounts applied to the affordable housing portfolio are intended to reduce barriers to entry and support an investor-friendly business environment.

Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements Carl Pophaim said a people-centred approach remained central to the programme.

“Central to the agenda is providing inclusive and safe residential environments with ecological amenities and green spaces,” Pophaim said. “Local economic growth, better access to employment and proximity to public transport — including rail, minibus taxis and bus services — form part of the suite of benefits.”

He said the City had made four tenders available on its tender portal, inviting prospective developers to consider the land offerings. The closing date for submissions has been extended to 10am on Tuesday, 17 March, to allow bidders sufficient time to submit proposals.

In Ottery, the Enslin site comprising several erven is proposed for a residential security estate of about 375 units in two- to four-storey buildings, offering a mix of affordable housing and market-related rental accommodation. In Lansdowne, land at the corner of Smuts and Ruby roads is earmarked for a similar security estate of about 308 residential units in four-storey buildings, also combining affordable and market-related rental housing.

In Northpine, a site on Buiten Street is proposed for a larger development of approximately 396 affordable rental units, together with 34 housing ownership opportunities and around 800m² of retail floor space. In Ruwari, Brackenfell, a smaller development at Affodil Street is planned, with about 115 affordable rental units, 30 ownership opportunities and roughly 60m² of retail space.

Pophaim described 2026 as a watershed year for affordable housing public-private partnerships.

“Releasing, packaging and developing public land for affordable housing is an intricate and time-consuming process due to legislative hurdles, but our teams persist,” he said. “In this win-win scenario, private partners work with the City and communities, while neighbourhoods benefit through investment that supports safety, integration and economic vitality. Ecological health and sustainable green open spaces are also prioritised.”

He added that the City currently has a pipeline of more than 12 000 residential units, including projects in the central Cape Town inner city, aligned with Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis’ priority programme to unlock well-located land for affordable housing and drive inclusive growth and spatial transformation.

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