The mismanagement of several incomplete mega-housing projects in the Ekurhuleni Metro has to stop.
The projects that were initiated with the promise of providing thousands of housing units to alleviate the severe housing need have failed miserably so far.
One example is the Tembisa Extension 25 project where R371 million has already been spent, but the site is vacant and residents still do not have the homes they were promised.
The Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Mr Kgopelo Holo, blamed it on a lack of funds needed to repair the damage caused more than two years ago by vandalism.
Dozens of people captured the project while windows, roofs and electric cables were stolen.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) concurs with Holo that these are not isolated incidents, but that it is an alarming trend affecting other mega-housing projects in the Metro as well.
It is regrettable that these people have to wait until the Metro receives R97 million from the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements before the projects can proceed.
The Daggafontein housing project commenced in 2016 with plans to provide around 17 000 houses. By May 2023, only the most basic infrastructure had been completed. No housing units have been built due to issues with contractors and community differences.
The current developments are not in line with the Metro’s vision outlined in its Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for the 2022/23 – 2026/27 period, which emphasises sustainable human settlements and improved quality of life for all residents.
This is unacceptable in the Freedom Front Plus’s view.
Ekurhuleni residents deserve transparency and accountability in these projects.
The Freedom Front Plus will escalate the matter to the Gauteng provincial government to ensure that those responsible for the projects are held accountable.
The party expects decisive action to be taken to address the ongoing housing crisis in the Metro.
The other planned mega-housing projects in Ekurhuleni include:
• John Dube Mega City (Duduza) – 10 531 housing units
• Daggafontein Mega City (Springs) – 16 940 housing units
• Leewpoort Integrated Human Settlement – 22 000 units
• Chief Albert Luthuli Mega Housing Project (Benoni) – 1 839 serviced stands and 6 239 housing units
• Tembisa Extension 25 – 3 510 social housing units
• Clayville Extension 45 – No details available
• Esselen Park – No details available
• Van Dyk Park – No details available
• Brakpan Old Location Extension 13 – No details available
• Palm Ridge Extension 10 and 12 – No details available
• Palmietfontein – No details available
• Vosloorus Extension 9 mega-housing project – 584 RDP houses and 70 social housing units.
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