Reframing the future of affordable housing – A legacy of building communities in a township context

South Africa’s housing challenge, particularly in less affluent areas, has never simply been about the number of homes delivered. Briers Bekker, Project Lead of Thorntree, a player in the affordable housing and development space in SA, says that the deeper issue has always been whether those developments create dignity, stability, opportunity, and long-term upward mobility for the families who live within them. He comments further below:

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Bekker says that, for decades, affordable housing has largely been measured through statistics such as units completed, subsidies allocated, and infrastructure rolled out. “And yet, families do not experience housing through numbers.”

He shares his insights on having a long-term vision and grass roots approach to developing housing to achieve a successful footprint within burgeoning townships and growing population areas within the country:

“For more than four decades, our business formerly known as Valumax that recently re-branded to Thorntree, has operated with a simple but unwavering belief that every South African family deserves access to a quality home that they can be proud of. While low-cost housing has historically focused on accessibility and large-scale housing delivery, our philosophy has always centred around affordable living creating communities that offer dignity, stability, opportunity and long-term upward mobility for the families who live within them. That philosophy has guided the company’s work across Gauteng and, more specifically, within Soshanguve, where it has spent more than twenty years building not only homes, but thriving communities.””

“Over this period, more than 30 000 housing opportunities have been delivered by our team, creating a thriving residential environment that today supports over 150 000 residents. For us as a business, however, those numbers have never simply represented growth. They represent families who moved from uncertainty into stability, from renting into ownership, from temporary living into places they can truly call home. Our company’s reputation has been built on consistency, long-term thinking, and trust earned within the communities we serve. In a sector often driven by short-term delivery, Valumax – now known as Thorntree, has taken a different approach. The focus has never been only on constructing houses, but on creating sustainable communities where families could establish roots and build futures.”

Building sustainable communities, not just houses

He adds that, “One of the most valuable lessons learned through our ongoing and long-term development in Soshanguve is that housing is never just about bricks and mortar. Communities thrive when developments extend beyond housing alone and create access to schools, transport routes, retail opportunities, healthcare facilities, public spaces, and local economic activity. When families can live close to opportunity while remaining rooted within their cultural and social environments, developments become sustainable ecosystems rather than temporary housing solutions. Importantly, affordable living is about far more than the structure of a house itself. South African buyers are aspirational. They are not simply looking for the cheapest available option, but for ownership, pride, security, and communities that represent progress and a better future for their families. This understanding has shaped our long-term approach to development and continues to influence the communities we create today.”

“This understanding has also informed and ultimately shaped our company identity and name from Valumax to Thorntree. Rather than a departure from the past, Thorntree represents the natural evolution of a legacy already deeply rooted within the community. The values remain unchanged. The commitment to quality, affordability, dignity, and long-term community development remains unchanged. The only definitive change is our name and the identity that we feel better represents us externally to the community and stakeholders we work with.”

“Inspired by the resilience of the acacia tree and the cultural richness of Soshanguve itself, Thorntree gives a distinct voice and identity to decades of work already established within the community. It reflects the resilience, ambition, and pride of the people who call the area home while creating a platform for the next phase of long-term growth.”

Reframing the future of affordable housing

Briers Bekker, Project Lead of Thorntree

At a time when South Africa continues to grapple with housing shortages, rapid urbanisation, and growing pressure on working families, the affordable housing sector requires a more human-centred approach. “Working families are not looking for temporary solutions. They are looking for stability, ownership, and communities that support upward mobility. Importantly, the affordable housing market should not be misunderstood as a market built on desperation. South African buyers are aspirational. They want safe environments, quality construction, and communities that reflect dignity and progress. They want to feel respected throughout the process of becoming homeowners.”

“South Africa’s housing sector also needs to place greater attention on the country’s so-called “missing middle”; working families who earn too much to qualify for traditional social housing, but too little to comfortably access the conventional residential market. These are teachers, healthcare workers, retail staff, artisans, municipal employees, and young professionals actively searching for pathways into formal ownership and long-term security.”

“Affordable housing can and should be aspirational. This is not about luxury. It is about respect. It is about recognising that every South African family deserves the opportunity to build a future within a community they are proud to call home. Thorntree represents that continued commitment and what we strive to deliver on with every new development we build and release into the Soshanguve community.”

Carrying a Legacy Into the Future

He concludes that: “Our Valumax business carries a legacy built over decades into the future. This legacy is one rooted in trust, community upliftment, and the belief that quality, affordable housing can transform lives. Guided by long-term vision and purpose, under the new identity of Thorntree we will continue to create sustainable communities designed for generations to come.”