More than 3.4 million households across South Africa are currently on the waiting list for state-assisted housing, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has revealed during a session of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
Fielding oral questions on Tuesday, Simelane explained that the figure is sourced from the National Housing Needs Register (NHNR), which serves as the department's primary database tracking individuals and families in need of government housing support.
Housing backlog estimates remain staggering
The Minister pointed out that Census 2022, published by Statistics South Africa, does not provide a definitive national housing backlog number. Instead, it presents household and dwelling statistics from which estimates can be calculated. The census recorded approximately 17.8 million households nationally, with between 12% and 13% residing in informal structures, including shack settlements and backyard dwellings.
"Using Census 2022 as the demographic base, national housing backlog estimates currently in use range between approximately 2.1 million housing units (Institute of Race Relations - Public Policy Estimates, 2025) and 2.2 million housing units (Centre for Affordable Housing Finance 2024/25)."
Simelane further noted that the most widely referenced and sector-accepted backlog estimate falls between 2.1 and 2.4 million housing units, all calculated using Census 2022 household data as a foundation. She stressed that although her department does not issue a single officially verified backlog figure, the NHNR continues to be the most dependable measure of housing demand in the country.
Outlining the government's response strategy, the Minister said the Medium Term Development Plan covering the 2024/25 to 2029/30 period sets out ambitious delivery targets. The department aims to construct 230 000 fully subsidised housing units and provide 314 000 serviced sites over the five-year period. Existing initiatives, particularly the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme, will play a central role in achieving these goals.
Flood damage assessments to determine emergency response
Simelane also addressed the devastating impact of recent flooding across several provinces. She confirmed that a thorough verification process is underway to evaluate both the extent and financial cost of flood damage in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
The assessment will guide the department's response, which could include distributing emergency fire kits to informal settlements, deploying the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) to inspect partially damaged homes, and erecting Temporary Residential Units where properties have been completely destroyed.
"Once the project has been concluded, the department is able to confirm the expenditure base on the work done," the Minister explained.
South Africa's massive housing backlog places immense pressure on municipal infrastructure, service delivery, and social stability, with millions of families enduring unsafe and undignified living conditions in informal settlements. For the construction sector and related industries, the government's five-year delivery targets represent significant economic opportunity, though past shortfalls raise questions about execution capacity. How effectively the department balances new housing construction with urgent flood recovery efforts will likely shape public confidence in the programme going forward.
