Building activity in the South African housing market improved in virtually all segments in 2011 compared with 2010, with only the higher-density category of flats and townhouses that showed a contraction in the construction phase.
The number of new housing units for which building plans were approved by local government institutions increased by 11%, or 5161 units, to a total of 52 240 units in 2011 from 47 079 units in 2010.