Social housing tenants in Cape Town demand action over utility charges and poor conditions
A wave of complaints from tenants in social housing facilities across Cape Town has led to calls for an urgent and independent investigation into the situation.
Image: Supplied
Tenants in social housing facilities across Cape Town are raising serious concerns, prompting urgent calls for an independent investigation into their living conditions.
GOOD Party councillor Axolile Notywala said the complaints, particularly from residents at the DCI Social Housing facility in Goodwood and Conradie Park in Thornton, include excessive utility charges, poor service delivery, and restrictive rules on visitors.
On June 22, Notywala attempted an oversight visit to the DCI Goodwood facility with fellow councillors but was barred from entering.
The incident, which he documented in a video, drew over 200 public comments from tenants echoing similar complaints across other social housing developments.
Messages sent to him privately paint a disturbing picture.
One message read: “The deposit is outrageous. People signed petitions. I know of an old man that died because he had to sleep outside.”
Another said: “This Place in Goodwood is worse and evil. People are treated like dogs and prisoners… Visitors (must) pay money or they will be thrown out. The water is dirty forever. Please stand with us (sic).”
On July 4, the People’s Legal Centre (PLC), acting on behalf of tenants, submitted a formal request for urgent intervention to the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure, and the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA).
SHRA responded on July 7, proposing a meeting with PLC and DCI on July 18.
In response, the City of Cape Town said it is “looking into some of the matters raised” but emphasised that day-to-day operations fall under social housing institutions.
“The maintenance, management, tenancy, rental payments and all housing complex matters are within the mandate of the relevant social housing institutions,” the City said.
Western Cape Department of Infrastructure spokesperson, Melchior Botes, said: “The issues raised with regards the Goodwood Station Project, managed by DCI, will be addressed accordingly.”
DCI CEO Fezile Calana defended his organisation’s practices, saying the housing provider has been transparent with tenants.
“Our conditions are that for a bachelor, only two people can stay; one-bedroom, two people; and two-bedroom, four people. These rules relate to maintenance.”
On visitation, Calana said: “People are only allowed 10 sleepover visitors per month and visiting hours are from 9am to 10pm. If people don’t leave, the security guards will tell them to leave. We are trying to maintain the standard, and people get annoyed with those rules.”
He denied claims that visitors are charged.
Calana acknowledged some tenants were struggling financially but warned that rental boycotts could lead to removal from the housing system.
However, Inspire Network spokesperson Imraahn Mukaddam accused social housing providers of exploitation under the guise of affordable housing.
"You qualify for social housing, pay R800, and after a year, you’re kicked out to make space for someone paying R4 000. It’s all about profit and not dignity.”
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