MORE than 283 000 Ekurhuleni residents remain on a housing waiting list while a R56 million RDP project stands abandoned and vandalised.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has vowed to escalate the stalled Vosloorus Extension 9 housing project to Gauteng Cogta MEC Jacob Mamabolo and formally engage the City of Ekurhuleni over ongoing delays.
DA PR Councillor Mabekenyane Thamahane said the stalled project continues to affect hundreds of residents waiting for proper housing.
"This project was supposed to assist residents from surrounding wards, but many are still living in backrooms and informal settlements while these units stand unfinished," said Thamahane.
He stated that the project had become heavily vandalised despite millions already spent.
"Residents deserve better. We want this project completed so that families can finally have decent homes," he said.
The party raised concerns during an oversight visit on Wednesday, 20 May, saying the housing development, initially expected to be completed within three years, remains unfinished eight years later.
The abandoned project, comprising 132 RDP walk-up units built with Alternative Building Technology (ABT), has since become vulnerable to vandalism and theft.
The oversight visit was led by DA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, DA Gauteng shadow MEC for Human Settlements Mervyn Cirota MPL, and Thamahane.
Speaking during the visit, Rasilingwane said the DA was concerned about the neglect of projects meant to provide dignified housing to struggling residents.
"This project was started in 2018 and was meant to benefit more than 132 residents in Ekurhuleni. We understand that over R56 million has already been spent, yet the project has been abandoned and vandalised," said Rasilingwane.
"We're going to take this issue head-on and ensure accountability. These homes were meant to benefit residents who are currently living in inhumane conditions," she said.
Cirota said the DA would demand answers from both provincial and local government regarding the budget spent, the contractors appointed, and the reasons for the delays.
"We have unfinished projects standing all around us. This is a failure to provide housing and basic services to residents who desperately need homes," said Cirota.
He stated that the DA would push for a full forensic investigation into the project.
"We want to know what funds were spent, what remains, what happened to the contractor, and why the project has stalled for years," he said.
Cirota also criticised government leadership, calling on Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and the Ekurhuleni mayor to visit the site and explain the delays.
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According to information provided during the oversight visit, the project faced several setbacks, including the lack of approval for geotechnical variations required for construction.
Officials further indicated that no additional budget was allocated for the project's top structures, while the City of Ekurhuleni allegedly didn't have a panel of ABT contractors available after the original contractor's contract expired.
This reportedly forced work on the site to stop completely.
