It was a day filled with intellectual reflection, heartfelt tributes, and thought-provoking conversation as Dr. Thozamile Botha officially launched his new book, The Housing Question: Race, Class and Space in Johannesburg 1994–2024, published by UNISA Press. The event, held at Exclusive Books in Menlyn Mall, Pretoria, was fully subscribed, with guests treated to a stylish finger lunch and a programme rich in insight.
The launch was not just about the book, but about the years of dedication it took to bring it to life. Speakers took turns reflecting on the project’s evolution, how the manuscript moved through different phases before reaching its final, meticulously crafted form.
Former Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, paid a moving tribute to Dr. Botha, recalling their first meeting overseas. “Thozi has always been a very determined, detailed and focused individual, and he has been consistent about his views on housing,” she said, adding that his meticulous approach to planning was a hallmark of his career. She also stressed his consistent advocacy for integrated human settlements and the importance of ensuring that communities have access to essential services like schools, clinics, and public transport.
Advocate Vusi Pikoli, former National Director of Public Prosecutions and a friend of Dr. Botha joined in the celebrations, addressing Dr. Botha by his clan name, a gesture of deep respect, while warmly congratulating him on the book’s significance.
Former Statistician-General Dr. Pali Lehohla, was one of the keynote speakers was equally impressed, praising the work for its depth and relevance. He emphasised the value of its contribution to the ongoing national conversation about housing and urban development.
Chief Executive Officer of Mthengenya & Associates and Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg’s Nuclear Research Centre, Dr. Fumene George Tsibani expressed his admiration for the book’s depth, noting that it reflects the same level of excellence and commitment he has long recognised in Dr. Botha’s professional journey.
Despite the academic weight of his work, Dr. Botha brought moments of lightness to the event. With his characteristic humour, he thanked the speakers, guests, and especially the UNISA Press team. He admitted to being pleasantly surprised at seeing some of the young, talented leaders in the publishing team and expressed gratitude for their patience during the production process.
Dr. Botha’s The Housing Question is both a historical account and a critical analysis of South Africa’s urban housing challenges. He situates the conversation within a century-long legacy of dispossession, starting with the 1913 Land Act and entrenched by the apartheid policy of separate development in 1948, that relegated black South Africans to townships far from economic opportunities.
Post-1994 governments have sought to reverse this legacy, but, as Dr. Botha argues, housing policy has often fallen short. Locating housing in distant, poorly serviced urban peripheries increases travel costs, fosters the growth of informal settlements, and perpetuates inequality.
The book takes a close look at two case studies in Johannesburg:
- Cosmo City, a mega-integrated human settlement in the north of the city.
- The densification of transport corridors between Soweto, Park Station, and Sandton, particularly along Louis Botha Avenue.
Through these examples, Dr. Botha examines whether inclusive, integrated projects can serve as genuine catalysts for urban transformation or whether they risk replicating old patterns under new names.
Blending rigorous scholarship with accessible analysis, Dr. Botha’s book urges policymakers, planners, and communities to confront hard truths about spatial injustice. For him, housing is more than shelter, it is about dignity, equality, and the right to the city.
UNISA Press has hailed the work as a vital contribution to South Africa’s ongoing struggle for urban equity, predicting that The Housing Question will become an essential reference for scholars, activists, and decision-makers alike. As the event closed, it was clear that this was not just a book launch. It was a rallying point for reimagining human settlements that work for
