“I Like It Where I Am”: Shack Dweller Movements in South Africa

This article examines the historical and contemporary politics of informal settlements in South Africa, situating present struggles within a long history of state-led slum clearance, forced removals, and community resistance. From the destruction of Sophiatown in the 1950s to present-day evictions, shack dwellers have consistently faced exclusionary urban policies, no matter which government is in charge. The article describes two key organizations that represent divergent visions for the urban poor in South Africa and beyond: Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) and Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI). Rooted in principles of dignity, collectivism, and direct resistance, AbM challenges the African National Congress (ANC) government by asserting people’s constitutional rights to housing and freedom from eviction, which remain unrealized. SDI emphasizes savings schemes, collaboration, and incremental housing development, by collaborating with government and international institutions. AbM’s approach highlights the persistent failures of post-apartheid governance, although new political dynamics signal a societal shift, namely the ANC’s electoral decline in 2024 and the rise of opposition parties. Internationally, South Africa can look to examples of social urbanism, emphasizing direct dialogue with those who live in informal settlements. In a country of 64 million people plagued with a deeply unequal distribution of wealth, considering the plight of the millions who live in shacks is critical to equitable post-apartheid development. In constructing a country that aspires to be the economic titan of Africa, the government must recognize shack dwellers not as a “problem,” but as an integral part of the nation’s urban fabric.