According to DA councillor Wollaston Labuschagne, it is clear that the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) Human Settlements Department and the Gauteng Housing Department do not want to ensure completion of this project.

This housing project has been in limbo for years and Labuschagne said that receiving project information from the CoE has proven to be a mammoth task, as it is never forthcoming.

“The only way I managed to obtain some information about this project, was by submitting questions to the MMC of Human Settlements, Lesiba Mpya. The Human Settlements Department officials rarely convey any information, especially the previous project manager who was suspended in 2019 on allegations of financial mismanagement and insubordination,” he said.

The housing project started in 2014 and was said to be complete no later than 2019, with a total of 600 units. Yet, in the past six years the CoE has managed to build only 54 houses. According to Mpya, the newly assigned completion date is now March 2021.

Meanwhile, a number of desperate families have taken illegal occupation of some of the completed and incomplete units. In his latest communication, Mpya admitted to Labuschagne that he is fully aware of the current situation.

“My department has applied for a court order to have illegal occupants evicted. The order was granted, but actions can only take effect as soon as the Covid-19 regulations will allow it,” Mpya stated.

In response, Labuschagne said the DA will submit follow-up set questions to determine whether the CoE Human Settlements Department have arranged alternative accommodation for the residents who are facing eviction.