Residents of Gugulethu, a township in Cape Town, South Africa, are growing increasingly frustrated with the delayed construction of 571 government-subsidized houses. The project, which was initially set to be completed in the 2023/24 financial year, has been stalled due to various reasons, including extortion rackets, threats of violence, and bureaucratic delays. The land earmarked for the housing project in NY126, near the Luyolo Community Centre, has stood vacant for years.
According to Stephen Heyns, spokesperson for the Western Cape government infrastructure department, the project has faced significant challenges, including internal delays in transferring the project from the provincial government to the City of Cape Town. Heyns stated that planning and approval processes have been completed, but the handover process has resulted in further delays. The department has secured funding and appointed a contractor, but a timeline for the project's commencement remains uncertain.
The housing project was initially under the purview of the Western Cape government infrastructure department but is now being transferred to the City of Cape Town for implementation. Heyns explained that the delay has been caused by the need for additional security measures due to the site's high risk of extortion and violence. The contractor had requested extra guards, which would have exceeded the project's approved budget.
In 2018, a group of backyarders, known as the Gugulethu Seven or G7, took matters into their own hands by erecting structures on the land, citing their frustration with being overlooked for housing opportunities. However, after the land flooded, they relocated to a nearby community hall. Nomawethu Maki, one of the G7 members, expressed her frustration with the lack of communication from the department and the slow pace of the project.
Mzwakhe Cebibokwe, a backyarder who has been on the housing waiting list for 20 years, shared his struggles with living in a backyard dwelling. He emphasized the need for the housing project to move forward, stating that it would be a dream come true to have his own home. Cebibokwe suggested that the city could allow temporary structures on the land to prevent it from being occupied by unauthorized individuals.
The housing project will provide fully subsidized Breaking New Ground (BNG) homes, with beneficiaries being drawn from the housing database. According to Heyns, a high-density, multi-storey BNG component was initially planned but was deemed unfeasible due to ongoing maintenance and management costs. The project engagement committee has reached an agreement on the allocation of beneficiaries from various areas.
The City of Cape Town has stated that it will only respond to the matter once all due process has been completed. Meanwhile, backyarders in Gugulethu continue to wait for the promised housing project to become a reality. The delays have left many residents feeling frustrated and disillusioned with the government's ability to deliver on its promises.
Key points
- Delays in the housing project have been caused by extortion rackets, threats of violence, and bureaucratic delays.
- The project has been stalled despite secured funding and an appointed contractor.
- Backyarders in Gugulethu have been waiting for years for the construction of 571 government-subsidized houses.
