SEDIBENG.- The Democratic Alliance (DA) has said that MEC Lebogang Maile’s Gauteng Department of Human Settlements has failed dismally to meet any of its housing services targets because he is distracted by the Gauteng ANC’s election battle.

The party said that Gauteng residents who are in desperate need of dignified housing and services continue to be exposed to terrible living conditions, yet MEC Maile who is supposed to deliver services has prioritised his political future.

“Instead of focusing on ensuring that Gauteng residents have access to dignified housing and the upgrading of informal settlements, Maile has totally neglected his duties as the MEC for Human Settlements and COGTA.”

According to the department’s third quarter report for the 2021/22 financial year, the following targets were not met:

• Zero townships were formalised against a target of 18
• Zero serviced stands were procured from the private sector against a target of 1,000
• Zero hostels’ projects were approved against a target of five
• Zero hostels where construction was taking place against a target of seven
• Zero family units were completed in hostel redevelopment projects against a target of 180
• Zero informal settlements received interim support services against a target of 60
• Zero informal settlements received phase two upgrading against a target of 15
• Zero approved upgrading plans of individual informal settlements against a target of 20
• Zero top structures were completed against a target of 70
• Zero property transfers were completed against a target of 90%