!Xamville Khoi Village: Land, Housing and Hope in Eldorado Park
In the heart of Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, a new community has taken root —!Xamville. This historic milestone marks more than just the launch of a housing initiative; it signals the beginning of a new chapter in the ongoing story of First Nation peoples reclaiming their rights to land, culture, and belonging.
After generations of exclusion, neglect, and dispossession, the voices of the Khoi and San — South Africa’s First Nation peoples — are rising once again. Community leaders such as Chief Keith Duarte and Shaquille Kasan stood alongside residents to reaffirm a truth long denied: that housing and land are not privileges, but rights deeply rooted in identity and history.
“For 31 years, not one RDP house has been built here for our people,” Chief Duarte reminded the crowd.
“We will continue to occupy this land until government addresses the people,” said Kasan, echoing the shared frustration of many.
Community activist Golden Myles Bhudu highlighted the years of grassroots struggle that led to this moment: “The community put in the work. Now that the authorities are finally coming to the table, we must not stop.”
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
What is happening in !Xamville reflects exactly what the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) seeks to protect and promote.
Under Articles 21, 23, and 26, Indigenous peoples have the right to:
- Adequate housing and improvement of living conditions.
- Control and participation in housing and development programs that affect them.
- Legal recognition and protection of their traditional lands, territories, and resources.
Further, Articles 8, 11, and 25 affirm that Indigenous peoples must not be subjected to the destruction of their culture and have the right to maintain spiritual relationships with their lands and places.
For communities like !Xamville, this is more than a legal principle — it is a restoration of humanity. To deny land and housing is to deny identity, heritage, and hope.
The Role of UN-Habitat and the World Urban Campaign
As the UN’s lead agency for sustainable urbanization, UN-Habitat plays a critical role in transforming such struggles into inclusive urban solutions.
UN-Habitat’s vision — “Together shaping the future of cities, leaving no one behind” — directly aligns with the aspirations of First Nation communities in South Africa. Its mission to implement the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 means ensuring that every person, regardless of heritage or status, enjoys access to safe, adequate, and dignified housing.
UN-Habitat’s strategic actions — from advocacy to partnership building — offer a powerful framework to support initiatives like !Xamville:
- Raise awareness of Indigenous housing exclusion.
- Identify policy solutions that integrate First Nation land rights within urban planning.
- Mobilize partners (government, civil society, and private sector) to support community-led housing models.
- Document and share lessons from places like !Xamville to inspire replication across other regions.
The City We Need
The World Urban Campaign’s guiding vision — The City We Need — promotes cities that are inclusive, equitable, and respectful of shared identity and place. For communities like !Xamville in Eldorado Park, this means creating spaces that do more than provide shelter. They must restore belonging, honor culture, and foster community resilience.
Cities that embrace their Indigenous heritage are stronger, more grounded, and more sustainable. When First Nation peoples lead local development, they ensure that growth is not only physical but spiritual, cultural, and generational.
The rise of !Xamville is not just a local event — it is a signal to South Africa and the world. The right to housing, land, and cultural identity are inseparable.
The time has come for government, civil society, and international partners — including UN-Habitat — to work hand in hand with Indigenous communities to ensure:
- Full implementation of UNDRIP at the national and local level.
- Inclusion of Khoi and San voices in urban planning and housing policy.
- Genuine partnerships that deliver tangible homes and empower communities.
The story of !Xamville reminds us that the journey to dignity begins with a place to call home. As the people of Eldorado Park continue to stand together, they embody the very essence of the New Urban Agenda — cities that are inclusive, just, and built by all, for all.
WUF13 Registration: Registration for the 13th World Urban Forum is open now, with a deadline of May 15, 2026. You can sign up via the official UN-Habitat events page or the WUF13 website.
