Thembisa housing beneficiaries desperate as project is abandoned
The buildings have been abandoned and vandalised, with little to no follow-up from the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements (GDHS) and the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE).
The beneficiaries of the new Sethokga Hostel and Hospital View housing development projects in Thembisa continue to endure dire and inhumane living conditions, while their newly built housing units remain unfinished, illegally occupied, and vandalised.
The DA recently conducted an oversight inspection of these developments to assess progress.
The condition of these housing projects is alarming.
The buildings have been abandoned and vandalised, with little to no follow-up from the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements (GDHS) and the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE).
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The Sethokga Hostel redevelopment project, meant to accommodate residents from the old hostel, remains incomplete and deserted.
The building lacks a roof, doors, windows, and essential bulk services such as water, wastewater systems, and electricity.
This project has attracted attention for two reasons – the funds already spent are unlikely to be recovered, and the contractor abandoned the project because of financial disputes with the department.
According to the DA, the failure to complete this initiative indicates the GDHS’ history of neglecting housing projects across the province.
Nearly eight years later, those awaiting housing are in an even worse position.
During their visit, members of the DA also assessed the Hospital View development project.
Evidence at the site, including a room with curtains, a door, and burnt firewood inside, suggests that people may occupy the units illegally.
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Additionally, they found plastic recycling bags stored in another room and a vandalised mini-substation.
“This situation is another example of poor service delivery by the Gauteng Provincial Government under Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
“The Hospital View project was intended to provide homes for over 300 residents from the Winnie Mandela informal settlement, who form part of the 1.3 million people in Gauteng waiting for houses since 1996.
“However, because of the GDHS failure to engage qualified contractors and enforce proper oversight, the project has stalled indefinitely,” said Mervyn Cirota, the DA’s Gauteng Shadow MEC for Human Settlements.
He added the DA has submitted questions to Human Settlements MEC Tasneem Motara regarding the status of these projects and is currently awaiting a response.
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In response to enquiries from The Thembisan, the CoE issued the following clarification:
• The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements (GDHS), not the CoE, implements the hostel redevelopment project.
• The entire project is on hold. The GDHS has identified land parcels for decanting purposes and is currently conducting studies on these sites.
• Regarding the Hospital View development, also known as the Thembisa Ext 27 project, the hostel dwellers are not listed as beneficiaries.
• The Thembisa Ext 27 project intends to benefit residents of the Winnie Mandela area.
• The project remains on hold because of a lack of further funding needed to complete construction.
