Ekurhuleni housing crisis deepens as DA and city clash over delivery

The City of Ekurhuleni’s housing crisis is once again under the spotlight, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) intensifying pressure on the municipality over stalled and delayed housing projects, while the city disputes claims that its Human Settlements Department has failed to meet its targets.

The latest dispute follows a statement issued by DA City of Ekurhuleni Human Settlements spokesperson Ald Mabekenyane Thamahane, who accused the department of spending 104% of its budget during the 2025/26 financial year while achieving only 50% of its targets.

The DA says the figures are evidence of poor financial management and inadequate delivery, arguing that thousands of residents continue to wait for dignified housing while several projects remain incomplete.

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The party has previously raised concerns about the city’s housing crisis with the office of Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and has also taken its concerns to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), seeking greater scrutiny of the housing backlog and alleged failures in housing delivery.

Thamahane said projects, including Clayville Extension 45, Thembisa Extension 27, the Six Hostels Redevelopment Programme, Airport Park and Palmfontein, had either stalled or experienced serious delays because of funding constraints.

The DA has also linked the housing challenges to what it describes as a broader financial crisis within the city, citing approximately R7.5b in municipal debt.

However, the city has strongly disputed the DA’s interpretation of its performance figures.

City disputes 104% expenditure claim

Responding to the enquirers GCN sent to the city’s Human Settlement MMC Nsizwa Mekgwe, he said the 104% figure does not represent the entire human settlements department budget.

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According to Mekgwe, the figure relates specifically to expenditure under the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUP), and should therefore not be compared with the department’s overall performance.

“The city has achieved 15 of its 18 annual targets, with only three targets not being met. These included repairs and maintenance of rental stock, where the city achieved 60% against a 95% target; refurbishment projects, where none of four planned projects were implemented; and the resolution of customer queries, where the city achieved 87% against a 95% target,” explained Mekgwe.

He attributed the missed targets to delays in finalising procurement and system glitches. He maintains that its city-wide targets were met or exceeded.

Tembisa project exposes the deeper challenge

Despite the disagreement over the city’s overall performance, the situation at Thembisa Extension 27 highlights the difficulties facing housing delivery.

Approximately R87m of the project’s original R97m budget has reportedly already been spent, while the development has remained incomplete since 2022.

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The MMC disputed the description of the project as stalled, saying it is currently active.

He said the proclamation of Thembisa Extension 27 has recently been finalised and that a contractor is on site repairing and replacing infrastructure that was stolen or vandalised while the project was inactive.

However, the city acknowledges that the project still requires significant additional funding.

“Approximately R78m is required to complete the 500 housing units in the first phase,” said Mekgwe.

He said the city has not received the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) required for the construction of the top structures. If the Gauteng provincial government approves the city’s request for the additional funding, the city said the 500 units could be completed within six months.

The DA has raised questions about how a project with an original budget of approximately R97m reached a point where a further R78m is required before the homes can be completed and handed over.

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The city said structural assessments have been completed and that the cost of remedial work has been incorporated into the estimated R78m required to finish the 11 blocks. Cases relating to theft and vandalism have also been opened with the South African Police Service at Tembisa Police Station.

Dispute over stalled projects

The DA has identified several housing projects as examples of the city’s failure to deliver. But the city disputes the status of a number of these projects.

On Clayville Extension 45, the MMC said the project is active.

“Construction of fencing and stormwater infrastructure was completed and handed over during the 2025/26 financial year, with the project subsequently handed over to Ekurhuleni Housing Company (EHC) for top-structure construction and further funding,” explained the MMC

On Thembisa Extension 27, the MMC said work is continuing, with repairs to vandalised infrastructure underway.

The city also disputes the DA’s reference to a Palmfontein housing project, saying it does not have a project by that name.

Regarding the hostel redevelopment programme, the MMC said it has five hostel redevelopment projects and that none are stalled.

“Kwa-Thema, Nguni and Thokoza are at stage 4, involving documentation, while Daveyton is at stage 5, implementation,” said Mekgwe.

Contractor debt adds to pressure

While the city rejects the DA’s characterisation of its housing programme, it acknowledges significant outstanding payments to contractors.

The city owes contractors approximately R29m for debts older than the 2025/26 financial year, while a further R379m is owed to contractors for the 2025/26 financial year.

“The city is addressing the payment backlog,” said the MMC.

The DA, however, argues that unpaid invoices have contributed to contractors abandoning sites, leaving incomplete developments vulnerable to theft and vandalism.

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The MMC said additional security measures are being considered, with a council item expected to be tabled in August regarding the retention of the function responsible for securing Human Settlements projects. In the interim, the EMPD has been requested to patrol vulnerable sites on a case-by-case basis.

Accountability remains unresolved

The dispute over housing delivery ultimately comes down to more than competing political claims. For residents waiting for houses, whether a project is described as “stalled” or “active” matters less than whether construction is taking place, whether funding is available and when they can realistically expect to receive their homes.

For Ekurhuleni residents, the measure of success will ultimately not be the percentage of targets reported by either side, but the number of completed homes handed over to families who have been waiting for them.