Planact

23/08/2026

Planact’s Executive Director, Fred Kusambiza, was honoured to be invited to the UN-Habitat South Africa Country Office Inauguration, held on 14 July at the UN Building in Pretoria.

The event was hosted by the National Department of Human Settlements (DHS) and marked the establishment of a permanent UN-Habitat office in South Africa and provided an opportunity for engagement between UN-Habitat, government, NGOs and academia working on built environment issues.

As an organisation working on issues within the built environment, Planact is well positioned to develop innovative interventions that generate compelling case studies and inform government programmes and policies.

Planact’s work also aligns with UN-Habitat’s commitment to prioritise vulnerable and marginalised communities, particularly through initiatives that promote inclusive, sustainable, and people-centred human settlements.

The inauguration provided an important opportunity for Planact to strengthen its engagement with UN-Habitat at both national and international levels, while exploring opportunities for collaboration to advance more inclusive, sustainable and resilient approaches to human settlements and the built environment.

18/08/2026

On the 18th of July, Planact hosted their third Youth Engagement event focused on Youth Perspectives on Elections and Democratic participation. This event sought to create a platform for young people to engage in meaningful discussions on the importance of voting and active citizenship in strengthening democracy. With youth voter participation remaining a key concern, the event encouraged young people to recognise the role they can play in shaping the future of their communities through electoral participation and beyond.

The discussions also provided an opportunity for young people to share their perspectives on the issues that matter most to their communities and the priorities they would like elected representatives to address. Through dialogue and youth-led perspectives, the event highlighted the importance of empowering young people to participate meaningfully in democratic processes and to make their voices heard.

13/08/2026

“We want to join forces with them!”

What initially started as a community meeting to discuss the establishment of (ENL) Disciplinary Camp in Ekurhuleni ultimately developed into an unexpected partnership opportunity for the Social Employment Fund Community Safety Team in Kuvuki.

The team attended the meeting hoping to connect with ENL Boot Camp team, but their commitment and active participation drew the attention, and was recognised by other stakeholders such as Selby Sibanyoni, founder of the .

Selby Sibanyoni, impressed by their dedication, said to Mpumi, the Supervisor for the Community Safety team in Kuvuki:

“Mpumi why not register an NPO I really love working with you guys; you demonstrate so much determination and commitment to what you do – register and we will work together.”

Full article👇🏾 https://www.planact.org.za/the-sef-community-safety-team-in-kuvuki-stand-against-drug-abuse/

03/08/2026

Passion alone is not enough to succeed in the construction industry.

Planact, in partnership with the (BEC), continues to empower emerging contractors and developers with the knowledge and skills needed to build sustainable businesses.

The May 2026 Emerging Contractors and Developers Training was the third round of training organised by Planact to support entrepreneurs entering the construction sector.

Facilitated by Dr. Amanda Filtane from the University of Cape Town, the intensive five-day programme provided information in:

🔹 The Construction Industry
🔹 Business Administration & Management
🔹 Branding & Management
🔹 Finance Management
🔹 Construction Science
🔹 SHEQ Management
🔹 Personal Development

The programme concluded with participants receiving certificates of attendance.

Click the link 👇🏾 to the 5-Day Contractor/Developer Training

https://youtu.be/0cP8SfNoHyU?si=yDSlnjNvScsSObZ4

01/08/2026

Our Asivikelane Community Facilitators from across Gauteng took a tour of various exhibitions with alternative toilets, yesterday.

A special thanks to the MMCs of Human Settlement, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso and of Infrastructure, Cllr Jack Sekwaila, in the City of Joburg who led the Facilitators through each exhibit.

Gauteng Department of Human Settlements | Department of Human Settlements | Water Research Commission | Johannesburg Water | South African Local Government Association (SALGA) | Development Bank of Southern Africa | Department of Water and Sanitation South Africa | Social Employment Fund

31/07/2026

31/07/2026

Symposium
Day 2 of Advancing Water Efficient Sanitation Solutions.

Happy to mention that today we are joined by our community partners, Asivikelane Community Facilitators.

Follow Planact for more updates.

31/07/2026

WATCH LIVE | Symposium on Advancing Water-Efficient Sanitation Solutions (WESS) | Day 2

Date: 30–31 July 2026
Location: DBSA Vulindlela, Johannesburg
Hosted by: The City of Joburg, in partnership with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), DBSA, Water Research Commission (WRC), Water Partnerships Office (WPO), Planact, and SALGA.

About the Event:
As informal settlements expand and water scarcity tightens its grip, we are backing water-efficient sanitation systems (WESS) that restore dignity to underserved communities while easing pressure on aging infrastructure. Over this two-day symposium, government leaders, innovators, researchers, and civil society converge to chart how sustainable sanitation moves from pilot to policy.

Catch the full proceedings, including national policy updates, high-level panel discussions, and technology innovator showcases shaping the future of water security.

Key Highlights & Themes:
🔸 Addressing Water Scarcity & Urbanisation:
Exploring sanitation systems engineered for the realities of high-density, rapidly growing settlements.
🔸 Evidence-Based Policy:
Bringing together DWS, DBSA, WRC, and academia to ground Joburg’s sanitation strategy in tested, scalable results.
🔸 Cross-Sector Collaboration:
Uniting government, private-sector innovators, research institutions, and community organisations to build a coordinated delivery plan.
🔸 Innovations at Scale:
Showcasing affordable, safe, and context-fit technologies designed for a water-constrained future.

^NJ

30/07/2026

30/07/2026

We are proud to see a former Planactor on the panel, Mr Tshepo Baloyi who is now with the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements