The R15-million housing project in Soshanguve extension 19 was put on hold after the contractor experienced extortion by unscrupulous community members, according to the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements.

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The department said the contractor was coerced to pay a so-called protection fee.

Some of the structures are yet to be completed, however, some look ready to be occupied.

In some of the structures, criminals have stolen kitchen sinks, bathtubs, doors and some windows have been broken.

Department spokesperson Fred Mokoko said the project is still with the contractor and has not been handed over to the department.

“We expect the contractor to provide security and also rely on the Community Liaison Officer to work with community members to protect the project,” Mokoko said.

“Owing to the disruptions, which are linked to local disruption by unscrupulous community members, we will try to involve other departments including law enforcement agencies to ensure that we can protect the people who have been legitimately awarded a contract to do work at the project site.

“At the moment we estimate that we may complete the project during the third quarter of 2022.”

The department estimates that it may cost between R14–15-million to complete the project.

“We are doing continuous monitoring of the project and according to the last report given to the department, there were 155 incomplete houses.”

Ward councillor Sakie Ntohla said when he came in as a councillor in 2018, there was a contractor who had been on site for three years but only completed 10 houses.

Ntohla said some of the beneficiaries of the completed houses are complaining that the houses are falling apart.

He said the condition of roads was also a problem.

“When it rains, cars cannot even move, even ambulances cannot enter. They cannot get service because of the condition of the roads. When it rains, community members are forced to ask to park their cars elsewhere for several days because the roads are so bad.

“It’s worse when there’s a funeral, people have to carry the coffin to the main road because cars cannot enter.”

He said he was also worried about a rise in criminal activities, because of the uncompleted structures.

“People are stealing things in those houses and we are worried that criminals might start hiding themselves in those houses.”