Development Action Group

DAG wishes you a happy holiday! As 2024 draws to a close, we’d like to thank our incredible partners for their support throughout the year! In 2024 DAG trained 68 individuals through 3 customised training programmes, gave tailored socio-technical support to 10 community organisations and developed 8 pieces of research. Our work is made possible through the rich network of individuals and organisations who contribute to it through our various programmes geared towards equal, sustainable, and inclusive neighbourhoods and cities. *Please note that our offices will be closed from the 13th of December 2024 to the 6th of January 2025.

📢 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE CDA 2025 CONTRACTOR TRAINING PROGRAMME 📢    In 2025, DAG’s Contractor and Developer Academy (CDA)) will be delivering its annual tailor-made training programme, to address the needs of emerging contractors from across Cape Town.    The 7-module course targets active emerging construction companies that would like to improve the business and construction project management skills.  We encourage applications from women, those with disabilities, and youth.    Interested candidates who meet the criteria can complete the online application form by the 14th of February 2025. For more information, contact nosive@dag.org.za or call 021 448 7886. 

🔊CALL FOR MICRO-DEVELOPERS TO PARTICIPATE IN DAG'S CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME     DAG’s Contractor and Developer Academy (CDA) is delighted to announce the return of its Developer Training course!     Following the success of this year’s programme, the CDA will deliver a customized developer training programme in partnership with seasoned professors from UCT. The training course aims to enhance the capacity and capabilities of emerging developers in the delivery of affordable rental accommodation.     This nine-module course aims to equip micro-developers with the skills and technical knowledge necessary to succeed within the industry. Topics to be covered include design guidelines, financial feasibility, conveyancing and more! A fee of R2500 is required to secure your spot.     Applications can be submitted online using the link below:     Interested candidates should apply by 28 March 2025.  Contact kamogelo@dag.org.za and chuma@dag.org.za or call 021 448 7886 for more information. 

Dear Small-Scale Developers and Property Owners, Please find an important notice regarding the administration of the City of Cape Town’s Township Development Charge Fund (TDCF) subsidy in the flyer below.

This week DAG joined the Cape Crisis Committee and the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) as they launched their “Rides Without Fear: Together Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. The campaign falls within the #16DaysofActivism against GBV and aims to create safer environments for commuters as they travel, eliminate violence and harassment in taxis, and encourage commuters to report any misconduct. As an organisation rooted in urban development, DAG notes the critical role that safe and reliable transportation plays in ensuring that people have access to economic opportunities and are able to connect with other communities. We are proud to support this incredible campaign as it endeavours to address the danger that vulnerable groups face when making use of public transport. DAG recognises the importance of community participation when responding to societal issues, as it is overwhelmingly commuters who are most affected by unsafe public transport systems. As such, DAG’s approach and interventions are centred on the asset-based community development approach, which recognises communities as a resource in development processes. We proudly partner with community based organisations such as the Cape Crisis Committee, as we believe that collective advocacy on issues like these will play a central role in framing a new urban agenda for just and equitable cities.

“Equipping residents to deal with minor faults is a way of mitigating many factors that contribute to the current disrepair of taps and toilets in informal settlements.”- Nikelwa Maqula, Community Facilitator Coordinator Last Friday, 10 participants from informal settlements across Khayelitsha celebrated the successful completion of the #BasicPlumbingSkills training programme from the Industries Education and Training Institute (IETI) in Goodwood. This programme forms part of Asivikelane's #RepairsandMaintenanceHub’s goal to equip residents in informal settlements to fix minor plumbing faults in their communities. The aim is to empower youth, women, and residents at large to take ownership of the basic services. Graduates received certificates acknowledging their new skills which enable them to preserve and maintain basic service infrastructure. “The space was so welcoming and made it easier for us to learn. I got an opportunity to learn about the flow of water and sanitation as well as the importance of ensuring that your work should always align with the South African National Standard. I am hopeful that this skill will not only assist me as an individual but the broader community as well” – Iviwe Ntsokwana, Plumbing Skills Trainee Asivikelane remains dedicated to fostering skilled, resilient response teams that protect community resources! #AsivikelaneRepairsandMaintenance #CapeTownHub #IETI

As we celebrate International #HumanRightsDay we remember that access to #water and #sanitation are #humanrights. #Asivikelane works with informal settlement residents to empower them to advocate for improved #servicedelivery. Find out more on our website: https://lnkd.in/dw7dhDri

We have joined partner organisations (Afesis ; BESG ; Development Action Group;Legal Resources Centre; Ndifuna Ukwazi ; People's Environmental Planning ; Planact South Africa ) in expressing our concern regarding the appointment of Minister Thembi Simelane to the Human Settlements portfolio, citing unresolved corruption allegations that must be addressed. We urge the Presidency to prioritise transparency, accountability and ethical leadership in this matter.

[Watch:] The Asivikelane initiative trained informal settlement residents to physically verify and map communal taps, toilets and waste collection sites. Having a detailed map which shows where communal services are located makes service delivery easier and faster and helps with repairs and maintenance.   Having a unique number for each tap and toilet means that when a service breaks, residents can capture exactly which tap or toilet is broken and what is wrong with it, so service providers can easily locate the broken service and bring the correct tools to fix it.   Asivikelane will use these maps of communal services to help municipalities create or strengthen their fault reporting systems.     We also share this information with government partners like the Auditor General and the National Department of Water and Sanitation. This helps them to strengthen their internal processes and better support municipalities.   The impact of this training is having a domino effect:  Residents in Johannesburg shared their skills with others in Buffalo City and Cape Town residents trained residents in eThekwini. This highlights the scalability of this project, demonstrating its potential for sustainable and lasting impact. Watch our short video here: https://lnkd.in/dtcEdMdW

"As cities continue to deal with the challenges of urbanisation, access to affordable housing opportunities remains one of the biggest challenges they need to address," - Zama Mgwatyu, DAG Programme Manager.