Cape Town’s housing backlog, now exceeding 600 000 households, has once again brought the issue of state-owned land into focus, with attention on the potential release of underutilised military sites such as Wingfield, Youngsfield and Ysterplaat. Minister Dean Macpherson has indicated support for unlocking portions of this land, which has been the subject of ongoing discussions between the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Government and National Government. While estimates suggest these sites could accommodate tens of thousands of housing units, questions remain around timelines, planning and implementation. Minister Dean Macpherson, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, speaks to John Maytham about what this process could look like in practice and how quickly it can move from commitment to delivery.

Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. 

A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham 

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