- Community leaders will work together to develop practical strategies that move housing, land and spatial justice forward.
- The Think Tank comes at a time when municipalities are under increasing pressure about housing, land and service delivery.
- The discussions will place special emphasis on women’s land rights, unlawful evictions and democratic participation.
Community leaders, grassroots activists and civil society organisations are meeting in Pretoria on 24 August 2026 for the Tshwane Urban Activist School Think Tank 2026, a collaborative effort to strengthen housing rights, land justice and democratic participation.
Hosted by the Tshwane Leadership Foundation in partnership with Lawyers for Human Rights and the Centre for Faith and Community at the University of Pretoria, the event is part of the Feast of the Clowns 2026, which this year marks almost 30 years of social justice work.
The gathering will bring together community leaders, legal practitioners, faith-based organisations and civil society partners to share experiences, identify new challenges and come up with practical solutions for housing and spatial justice.
Housing crisis drives the agenda
Across Tshwane, thousands of people still struggle with insecure housing, overcrowding, poor basic services, forced evictions and unequal access to land. Organisers say these challenges are some of the country’s most urgent human rights concerns, especially for those living in informal settlements and low-income communities.
The organisers say the anniversary "builds on a longstanding tradition of bringing communities, activists, faith-based organisations and civil society partners together to reflect on social justice challenges, strengthen collective action and imagine more just and inclusive communities."
The Think Tank will look at housing rights, land rights, constitutional protections, community organising and working with government institutions. It aims to equip grassroots leaders with practical knowledge so they can push for real change and hold public institutions accountable.
Building stronger grassroots leadership
The Tshwane Urban Activist School is a longstanding leadership and community organising programme started by Lawyers for Human Rights, the Centre for Faith and Community, and the Tshwane Leadership Foundation. Over the years, it has helped grassroots leaders strengthen their community campaigns, work with municipal officials and push for better access to housing and basic services.
Although the Urban Activist School could not run in 2026 because of funding issues and fewer participants than expected, the partner organisations say the Think Tank will keep the momentum going from previous years.
Around 25 to 30 community leaders and activists from previous Tshwane Urban Activist School groups and participating communities are expected to attend, along with resident committee members and community organisers.
Local elections place municipalities in focus
These discussions come at an important time as South Africa gets ready for the 2026 Local Government Elections. Local government plays a crucial role in housing delivery, spatial planning and providing basic services.
Participants will talk about how communities can work with municipalities, monitor service delivery, strengthen democratic participation and make sure elected representatives fulfil their constitutional duties.
Organisers say the Think Tank will also help build advocacy, negotiation and community mobilisation skills, while supporting communities to develop practical campaign plans for the coming year. "The Think Tank will provide space for communities and civil society actors to reflect on these challenges and explore pathways towards stronger protection of housing rights," the organisers said in a statement.
Women’s land rights remain a priority
A key part of the programme will be the continued barriers women face in getting land, housing and property rights. Despite promises of equality in the Constitution, organisers say many women still face structural obstacles that limit their ability to own, inherit, access and control land and housing.
They say poverty, discrimination, insecure tenure and limited participation in decision-making continue to make these inequalities worse within marginalised communities.
"The partners want to make sure the constitutional rights to dignity, equality, adequate housing, land and property ownership are realised in practice, especially for communities that still face exclusion and inequality," the statement says.
The Tshwane Urban Activist School Think Tank 2026 takes place from 10am to 2pm at St Albans Cathedral, 237 Francis Baard Street, Pretoria Central.
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