It is evident from the Tshwane Metro’s Department of Human settlements’ quarterly report for the period between June and November 2025 that the Department failed to fulfil its constitutional mandate.
Consequently, nearly an entire quarter of providing Metro residents, particularly low-income and vulnerable groups, access to decent, safe and sustainable housing has been lost in the process.
The report shows that no new land was prepared, no water or sewer connections were installed, no roads were constructed, no land was purchased for new projects and not a single subsidised house was built.
As a result, the Metro had to drastically reduce its annual target for new houses from 1 200 to only 407. The reason for this is delays at provincial level, with tenders and procurement processes not being finalised on time.
The report further points out serious problems with financial control and non-compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). Records are not properly kept, internal controls are lacking and old audit findings remain unresolved.
It reveals a pattern of perpetual maladministration.
Although some officials are working hard to process title deeds, it makes very little difference when major construction projects have come to a complete standstill. Communities are waiting for access to land with basic services, roads and proper houses, not just words on paper.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) calls for urgent intervention by the city administration and proposes the following:
• a comprehensive MFMA compliance recovery plan;
• formal escalation of provincial procurement delays;
• improved contract and project management systems;
• monthly progress reporting on bulk infrastructure at serviced sites; and
• a clear action plan to prevent a repetition of the same audit findings.
The executive has to take urgent action to restore compliance, rebuild capacity and ensure that the next quarter is not a rehash of the second quarter’s failures.
