Afesis

Season’s Greetings! Our team will be taking a well-deserved break to recharge and celebrate the holiday season. Please note that our operations will be on pause starting today. We will resume full services on January 13th, 2025. Thank you for your continued support throughout the year. We wish you a joyful and peaceful holiday season!

🌍 Insightful Read Alert! Dive into the dynamics of traditional leadership, planning, and land allocation in South Africa with Afesis' Sustainable Settlement Specialist, Ronald Eglin's latest article, Modelling and using a pattern language to inform land-use change decisions in rural Mooiplaas, Great Kei Municipality, South Africa 📖 Read more below or use the link: https://lnkd.in/d47WEkxy #Afesis #humansettlement #landuse

Afesis applauds the Nelson Mandela Foundation for its bold action in challenging the state’s failure to meet its constitutional obligation on equitable land access.  The Right to Land Many believe the Constitution guarantees individuals the right to land, but this isn’t the case. Instead, Section 25(5) of the Constitution obligates the state to create a supportive legislative, economic, and institutional environment to ensure equitable access to land. The section reads: "The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to foster conditions which enable citizens to gain access to land on an equitable basis." Despite its importance, this provision has never been directly tested—until now. The Nelson Mandela Foundation has filed a landmark case in the Western Cape High Court, challenging the state’s failure to meet this constitutional obligation. Read more about this crucial development here.  (https://lnkd.in/dJrjE5P5  ) This legal challenge is long overdue. Afesis applauds the Nelson Mandela Foundation for taking this bold step and looks forward to engaging in meaningful dialogue with the state to ensure the development of robust legislation and other measures to address this issue. Together, we can pave the way for equitable access to land for all. #RightToLand #SocialJustice #LandEquity #Afesis #NelsonMandelaFoundation #SouthAfrica

Afesis joins other organisations in raising crucial concerns regarding the appointment of Minister Thembi Simelane to the Human Settlements portfolio and calling for greater transparency and accountability with this joint letter. Read the full letter below: #Accountability #transparency #goodgovernance #afesis #humansettlement

🌍✨ [UPDATE] Sophakama in Cala and Molteno Afesis recently facilitated a Social Mapping and Community Visioning Workshop with community members from Cala and Molteno in the Chris Hani District. This workshop forms part of Sophakama, a collaboration between Afesis, Alliance for Rural Democracy, AgendaGL, and Equality Collective. Together, we aim to work alongside and equip communities in former homelands with the tools to drive sustainable development and strengthen local governance. During the workshop, participants identified community assets, addressed pressing challenges, and developed practical solutions for building resilient, sustainable communities. "The workshop sparked meaningful conversations, empowering participants to understand their communities better and equipping them to take tangible steps toward community development," shared Unam Mlisana, Local Governance Program Officer. We are inspired by the passion and commitment of these community members and look forward to seeing their vision for change come to life. 🙌 #Sophakama #CommunityDevelopment #LocalGovernance #SocialMapping #SustainableDevelopment #ActiveCitizenry #RuralEmpowerment

🌍 ICYMI: #WorldCitiesDay 🌍 Basic Services Program Officer Mduduzi Ntongana joined SABC News to discuss critical urban planning issues in South Africa. Reflecting on the “Youth Leading Climate and Local Action for Cities” theme, the conversation covered the challenges and opportunities of building resilient, inclusive urban spaces. Mduduzi emphasized the power of youth and community-driven efforts to transform informal settlements and champion sustainable development. Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/d8A-_UqC #UrbanOctober #YouthForCities #SustainableDevelopment #Afesis #HumanSettlement

🌍✨ TONIGHT | You’re invited to an impactful discussion on accountability in Africa at the Living Rights Festival! Join us for a vital conversation featuring industry experts on panel with Afesis' Executive Director, Nontando Ngamlana, as we explore the role of citizens in holding institutions and leaders accountable. Date: Tuesday, 29 October 2024 Time: 18:00 - 20:00 (Please note the event starts promptly at 18:00) Venue: Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Cape Town Be part of this important discussion on the future of accountability in Africa. RSVP now: https://lnkd.in/d35WdKkN #accountability #transparency #communitydevelopment #afesis

Afesis is looking forward to the launch of the National Strategic Hub, which promises to bring transformative changes to local governance. We recognize the importance of such initiatives in fostering accountable, reliable and transparent governance and look forward to how this will support all efforts of community development. #localgovernment #servicedelivery #afesis #governance #communitydevelopment

Earlier this month, reflecting on three decades of democracy at the 30 Years of Democracy Gathering hosted by My Vote Counts at Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg, Afesis Executive Director Nontando Ngamlana joined fellow activists and progressive organizations to explore what it truly means to #ReclaimOurDemocracy from below. Key takeaways presented from the plenary group included: 💡 Recognition of diverse struggles and the need to pursue a unifying campaign that connects us all. 💡 Building solidarity: understanding that it means showing up for and with each other in mass. 💡 Acknowledgment of the existing energy at the community level and that progressive movements must connect with and support these grassroots struggles to build from the bottom. We are excited to have gained so much insight and fostered meaningful discussions at this gathering.  Photo cred: My Vote Counts #democracy #reclaimingourdemocracy #socialjustice #buildingademocracyfrombelow #reimaginedemocracy

Today marks Day 1 of the National Urban Forum, hosted by the South African Cities Network, focusing on Urban Opportunities and Challenges. Afesis' Executive Director, Nontando Zintle Ngamlana is in attendance and on the panel, contributing to important discussions surrounding urban development. Join us in celebrating Urban October as we engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of our cities! 🌍✨ #UrbanOctober #NationalUrbanForum #SustainableCities #Afesis