Picture (from left): Saliem Patel, Shariefa Ebrahim (IFWEA) and Dan Nicander (IUT).

Dan Nicander, the Secretary General of the International Union of Tenants (IUT), recently met with IFWEA and housing and related organisations in South Africa. Usually based in Sweden, we caught up with Dan to speak about his trip and his work:

How long have you been Secretary General of the International Union of Tenants (IUT)?

I took up the position in November 2023. Before that, I spent ten years working within the Swedish tenants’ movement, and earlier in my career, I worked for many years in the trade union movement.

Can you please briefly explain what the IUT does?

The IUT is a global organisation representing tenants and their right to decent, affordable, and secure housing. With nearly 80 members across more than 50 countries, we focus on advocacy, capacity building, and international cooperation. The IUT also holds consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council and participatory status with the Council of Europe.

What was your journey to becoming involved in housing and tenants’ rights?

My commitment to housing issues really began during my time in the trade union movement. Working for people’s rights – whether the right to decent work or to adequate housing – has always felt essential to me. That same core belief is what later led me to engage more deeply in the Swedish tenants’ movement, where I could continue defending people’s everyday rights in a very tangible way.

“We need more homes that people can actually afford. Housing is not just a market commodity; it is a fundamental necessity and a human right.” Does this align with what trade unions and worker organisations are doing?

Yes, very much so. Trade unions have always fought for decent living standards for workers — and housing is a crucial part of that. Today, many unions are actively addressing the housing crisis, because rising costs undermine the social progress they have achieved in wages and working conditions. Ensuring access to affordable and quality housing strengthens workers’ rights and dignity both at work and in society.

IUT has a strong presence in Europe. And now you have recently been in South Africa. Can you please tell us a bit about the trip?

I travelled to Cape Town in September 2025 to strengthen IUT’s connections with organisations in South Africa. The visit was organised together with IFWEA – through the Youth Global Awareness Programme (YGAP). The main goals were to establish new contacts, encourage the formation of tenants’ organisations, and lay the foundation for a stronger tenants’ movement in Africa.

Did you meet with any of the housing organisations in South Africa?

We met several tenants and local actors, including the Housing Assembly, Heal the Hood, Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG), and Ilitha Labantu. We also held a digital meeting with the Tenants Union of South Africa (TUSA). These meetings gave a clearer picture of both the challenges and the energy within South Africa’s housing movement.

And what did you discover?

The scale of the housing crisis in Cape Town is striking. Around 2.7 million people live in informal settlements, often without formal tenure or access to basic services. We stood in communities where overcrowding, unaffordable rents, forced evictions, violence and insecurity are part of daily reality. But we also saw the strength and determination of local communities and organisations fighting for dignity and housing justice.

Do you see IFWEA and IUT collaborating?

Yes, absolutely. IFWEA and IUT share similar values and structures, and we both believe in empowerment through education and organisation. We see potential for collaborative projects on tenant education, community organising, and capacity building for emerging housing groups in Africa.

Is there an educative component to the IUT?

Yes. Education and knowledge exchange are central to what we do. We help our members strengthen their advocacy and organisational capacity and promote learning between countries and regions. Partnering with IFWEA could open new opportunities to develop educational tools for tenants’ rights and housing advocacy.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The visit to South Africa reminded me how interconnected our struggles are. Whether in Cape Town or Stockholm, the right to housing is universal. Building strong alliances between tenants’ organisations and civil society is essential if we are to achieve fair and sustainable housing for all.