The DA recently announced that it is unsurprised that the ANC-led Ekurhuleni Metro and the Gauteng Provincial Government cannot come to grips with the housing backlog in the metro.
“During a presentation at a recent human settlements workshop, the metro reported that the housing backlog is 365 672, while other documents tabled to the Human Settlements Oversight Committee state the backlog is 421 638,” said DA spokesperson on human settlements, Barbara Harrison.
“The ANC refused to hear the concerns and advice of the DA.
“Bizarrely, the ruling party seems less terrified of losing votes through the non-delivery of houses, than through the opposition possibly getting credit for sorting out their mess.
“When asked to explain the huge discrepancy at the workshop, officials ascribed it to the Ekurhuleni Metro and Gauteng Province’s financial years ending and starting at differing times.
“I, however, find it hard to believe that a difference of over 55 000 units over a couple of months, either way, is possible.
“As worrying, are the differing figures reported by Ekurhuleni mayor Mondli Gungubele, and Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements Queen Duba.
“While the mayor, during his speech to council in May 2013, proudly reported that 68 000 houses had been built since 2000, Duba, reported a figure of 94 969 houses during the workshop,” said Harrison.
Harrison added that either way these figures did not leave much promise for residents of Ekurhuleni waiting for houses.
“If 94 969 houses were built over the past 12 years, it means that an average of 8 081 houses were built per year,” she said.
“At this rate, and with a housing backlog of 365 672, this would mean that it would take another 45.2 years before the current backlog within the Ekurhuleni Metro is addressed,” she explained.
“Given the figures that were made available, this time estimate is the best case scenario.
“The worst case scenario, namely that 68 000 houses were built over the same period and that the housing backlog is 421 638, would mean that it would take 74.4 years to deal with the existing backlog.”
Harrison also emphasised that the calculation did not include the growth in demand, which was sure to result from the natural population growth and the ongoing influx of people into Gauteng.
She added that the bottom line was that neither the ANC-controlled Gauteng Province, nor the Ekurhuleni Metro was apparently capable of addressing the housing crisis.
“Mismanagement, incompetence and apathy seem to be the main problems, not to mention the ongoing allegations of corruption,” said Harrison.
“However, despite all this, the ANC continues to mislead desperate residents with promises of houses in order to win their votes.”
She added that a diversified approach to housing – including RDP housing, social housing as well as a variety of other alternatives, along with transparent and accountable processes – ensured that provision of housing in DA-governed municipalities was a great deal more efficient.
“But the ANC will never take advice from the DA or a leaf out of Midvaal or Cape Town’s books, even at the expense of unnecessarily extending the suffering of homeless people,” added Harrison.
