The Housing Company Tshwane (HCT) was established by the City of Tshwane in 2001. HCT is a municipal entity as envisaged in Section 9(2) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act 32 of 2000), under the exclusive jurisdiction and ownership control of the City of Tshwane, and is duly registered in terms of the Companies Act, 2008 (Act 71 of 2008).

The City of Tshwane, its sole shareholder, established HCT to develop and manage social housing, which is recognised as a pivotal tool in restructuring Tshwane. HCT is mandated to act as a long-term institutional platform through which the City can promote the business of procuring, developing, owning, letting, maintaining and managing residential accommodation (primarily for the low- and middle-income brackets in terms of the National Housing Code).

In terms of Section 86(C) of the Municipal Systems Act, 2000, the City must assist HCT to achieve the aforesaid affordable housing development goals through HCT undertaking affordable housing developments and making affordable housing units and supporting infrastructure available to qualifying households within the City’s area of jurisdiction.

The City of Tshwane acknowledges that HCT is a business entity and, as such, requires maximum degree of autonomy to allow it to fulfil its business operations (subject to the checks and balances of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act 56 of 2003)). To this end the parties agree that all financial obligations to HCT by the City will be transferred within 60 days of approval of the annual budget of the City.

HCT also represents the vehicle that ensures that the City stays focused on its agenda to offer accommodation to poorer communities who have been historically marginalised from the inner city precincts and business development districts that have grown within Tshwane. The overall objectives of HCT and the assessment of its ability to deliver on its promises, vision, mission and organisational structure need to be understood.