The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements signed a strategic partnership with University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) on Friday, aimed at improving housing delivery and addressing growing urban challenges in the province.
The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), focuses on collaborative research, policy development, and innovation in the built environment sector. The MoU was signed by Head of Department Puleng Gadebe-Mabaso alongside Wits Deputy Vice-Chancellor Ian Jandrell and Dave Root.
The partnership will be implemented through the department’s Policy and Research Unit and Wits’ School of Construction Economics and Management, with an emphasis on evidence-based policymaking and innovative housing solutions. Gadebe-Mabaso said the province continues to face mounting housing pressures, including a growing backlog, the expansion of informal settlements, and spatial inequality driven by rapid urbanisation.
“To address these challenges, the department is prioritising research that informs planning, implementation, and evaluation,” she said.Gauteng remains under pressure as population growth strains housing and infrastructure systems. The partnership aims to strengthen institutional capacity and improve the department’s ability to deliver sustainable human settlements.
“The objective is to foster innovation through research, strengthen our execution capacity, and ultimately deliver inclusive and sustainable human settlements,” Gadebe-Mabaso said. Jandrell described the agreement as a key step in ensuring academic research contributes directly to societal development.
“This partnership reflects the important role universities play in contributing to societal development,” he said. He added that the collaboration would extend Wits’ research into communities, helping improve the quality of life for residents across the province.
