Equity and sustainability in housing and human settlements in South Africa: A human rights perspective

This article explores the intersection between housing, human rights, equity and sustainability within the South African context.Acknowledging South Africa's unique socio-economic landscape, characterized by deep inequalities and historical injustices, the article seeks to assess the country's housing legislative and policy framework through a human rights lens.The primary objectives of this research are threefold: first, to evaluate the extent to which current housing laws and policies promote equitable access to adequate housing for all South Africans; second, to highlight the challenges of equity and sustainability in housing and human settlements; and third, to propose actionable, rightsbased recommendations on how to address current challenges.To achieve these objectives, the paper begins with a review of the key concepts followed by a review of South Africa's legislative and policy framework.The paper then reviews the challenges of equity and inclusivity before suggesting recommendations to address these challenges including adopting a human rights-based approach which emphasises the core principles of equity, dignity, sustainability, participation, accountability, non-discrimination, empowerment of rights holders, and legality.