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Abstract

Women’s history in South Africa is replete with examples of exclusion, discrimination, and marginalization. The transition to democracy in 1994 and inclusion of gender equality in the post-apartheid constitution in 1996 were seen as steps in the right direction towards addressing women’s oppression and creating gender equity in accessing housing finance. The subsequent formulation of policies and institutions meant to achieve gender equality put women’s concerns in the public domain. However women’s access to capital and housing finance in particular remain challenges in accessing improved housing. An exploration of women’s position with regard to housing finance points to the ways in which women were systematically excluded from accessing housing during apartheid. While the post- apartheid housing policies have been inclusionary to women, access to finance from both the traditional and non-traditional housing finance institutions remains a challenge. This paper argues that women’s involvement in rotating savings schemes has been key in providing them with finance for the consolidation of subsidized housing in South Africa. Although micro-credit institutions continue to respond to women’s need for housing finance, equality in access to housing finance will only be achieved when all the role players, both formal and informal, remove the obstacles that constrain women’s access to capital and credit for investment in housing development.

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