Episode 18: The Heart of the Matter [Setting the Scene for "We've GOT to talk about Housing"]

Talking Transformation

The Talking Transformation Podcast conversations planned in the coming weeks are being scheduled as a “deep-dive” series of conversations with a wide variety of practitioners active in the South African housing field. We're looking back at the achievements and shortcomings of 26 years of implementation; considering current challenges and looking ahead to the future of human settlements.

In this first episode of the series, we speak with Monty Narsoo who has served at the forefront of housing policy, programmes and delivery since 1994. His CV is a testimonial to activism, public service and contribution to the housing field and built environment more generally. He has served at the executive level of Gauteng Province Housing Department, as the founding Chief Executive Officer of the South African Cities Network and as Deputy Director General at the National Department of Housing. Since 2008 has been governance advisor to the National Department of Human Settlements. Few are better placed to look back and reflect objectively than Monty.

We ask about the vision and the aspirations of the Mandela administration under the leadership of Joe Slovo; the tenets of the Reconstruction Development Programme (RDP) and the Housing White Paper of 1994.

TTPod caught up with Monty whilst he was in Cape Town leading a capacity-building team from the National Upgrading Support Programme (NUSP). His reflections set the tone and foundation for the conversations to come. Enjoy!

Recorded Feb 25th 2020