EMFULENI. – Msimanga, together with the DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Human Settlements and CoGTA, Mervyn Cirota as well as the DA Sedibeng Caucus Leadership, conducted oversight inspections at the incomplete housing projects by the Kwa-Masiza hostel and the Boiketlong.
“Even though Emfuleni residents are in desperate need for dignified housing, projects remain incomplete and vandalised. We were appalled to discover the current status of the incomplete residential units at Kwa-Masiza hostel, where the units have been vandalised. Windows have been left broken, while the floor and wall tiles have been stripped off and stolen. The doors, sinks and the cupboards have also been stolen.”
Msimanga said this was one of many incomplete housing projects across the province that has been left deserted and vandalised. He further stated that hostel residents across the province were living in appalling conditions.
Msimanga revealed that the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements had spent at least R46 million in the 2012/13 financial year to convert the Kwa-Masiza hostel in Sebokeng into community residential units.
“The contractors and the security services abandoned the site in 2019 due to non-payment. The longer the housing projects remain incomplete and unoccupied, the more likely they will become targets for illegal occupants, vandalism, and corruption.
”The Boiketlong housing project, which is part of the Gauteng Mega Housing Project, was meant to build 7 000 housing units but has been left incomplete, with only 72 units completed and allocated.The housing waiting list in this province has exceeded 1 million, clearly indicating a major housing crisis.
“The DA will table questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to the MEC for Human Settlements, Lebogang Maile, to ascertain when these two projects are going to be completed, how much has been spent so far, and how much budget is left.
“We will continue to put pressure on MEC Maile to ensure that these projects are completed and the rightful beneficiaries are allocated to the housing units as soon as the projects are completed.”
