Transformation

We are committed to the transformation agenda of South Africa

Divercity, in its founding principle and core fund objective, is committed to the transformation agenda of South Africa. Through its various activities, Divercity is working towards a more transformed and equitable society in the following areas:

SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION:

In the South African context, Divercity firmly believes in the importance of undoing of Apartheid Era spatial divides that, to this day, segregate our cities by race and class. By developing integrated neighborhoods in centrally located areas, Divercity is bringing histrionic marginalized households that are typically pushed out to the urban edge, far from opportunity, into the urban core. This is by far the most meaningful and significantly transformative aspect of Divercity’s business model.

EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT:

Of Divercity’s roughly 400 employees, over 90% are black. Through a process of continuous internal skills development and mentoring, Divercity has over the past 10 years promoted numerous employees to more senior positions in the business – thereby increasing their earning potential and promoting a culture of inclusive growth within the business.

PREFERENTIAL PROCUREMENT:

Divercity follows a policy of preferential procurement from empowered suppliers. During 2019, of Divercity’s c. R800m in non-finance procurement spend, over 55% was procured from BEE Level 1 and 2 suppliers and over 75% was procured from BEE Level 4 and below empowered suppliers.

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT:

Divercity’s high-density precincts provide fertile ground for small businesses to thrive in. In addition to creating an enabling environment for small black businesses, Divercity directly supports small black-owned businesses through preferential rental rates and business development support to supply essential services such as childcare facilities, basic services and small format retail in our precincts.

By 2030, the UN’s goal is to ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.

Our impact

Over the next five 5 years, Divercity expects to construct more than 10,000 new and green affordable residential units in centrally-located neighbourhoods, expanding housing options close to economic opportunity for low- and middle-income households. Construction of the new residential units will help address the growing housing deficit and issues of spatial segregation in South Africa.

By 2030, the UN’s goal is to develop reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all

Our impact

Divercity is providing housing in locations that are connected to existing infrastructure, such as healthcare, schools, jobs and parks. This serves to reinforce accessible and equitable cities, as well as strives to break the destructive pattern of South Africa’s apartheid infrastructure and planning.

By 2030, the UN’s goal is to strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related disasters

Our impact

More compact cities – enabled through the kind of development that Diversity advances – are associated with substantially lower greenhouse gas emissions, better land-use, and energy and resource efficiency, based on research 1 we’ve done with the Green Building Council South Africa (GBSCA) and Arup. Divercity has a commitment to minimising greenhouse gas emissions and is already supporting climate change mitigation through a range of measures, such as rooftop solar arrays, energy and water efficient design in all of our buildings and EDGE rating of all new developments.

By 2030, the UN’s goal is to ensure equitable and quality to pre-primary, primary and secondary education and lifelong learning

Our impact

Through our Ithemba Upliftment Foundation, we are contributing to early childhood development, enabling hundreds of young children to receive quality education at Daycare Centres in our precnits. This is in addition to the widened access to formal education facilities that are part of our developments, and our efforts in supporting lifelong learning through supporting adult education.

By 2030, the UN’s goal is to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, renewable and modern energy sources

Our impact

As the cost of renewable energy generation capacity becomes more accessible and affordable, we are integrating these technologies more broadly across our residential portfolio. Divercity is focussed on eco-responsible housing as a viable means to contribute to sustainable and environmentally friendly urban development – through rigorous adherence to green building standards, including the use of energy efficient LED lights, rooftop solar arrays, energy efficient hot water generation and energy efficient building design.

By 2030, the UN’s goal is to encourage and promote effective public, private and civil society partnerships to attain the global goals

Our impact

Our partnerships empower us to champion progressive policy that supports sustainable development. One impactful example of such a partnership is our work with Green Building Council South Africa (GBSCA) and Arup, the global multi-disciplinary firm, on a research project on the enormous environmental and economic costs of the current dynamic of urban sprawl in Johannesburg. Through this project, we developed actionable recommendations for policymakers, investors and other stakeholder groups.
You can read more about the research project, titled: Does location matter? here.