Community meeting fails to resolve Silversand housing crisis

Frustration reached a boiling point for homeowners affected by the ongoing Silversand housing crisis during a tense meeting on Sunday with developers and community stakeholders. 

The residents, whose homes were originally scheduled for completion in early 2024 but have remained unfinished for nearly four years, gathered at the Silversand site before relocating to the Community Faith Church (CFC). This church, which previously sold the land to CSD Development, became the backdrop for their desperate plea for clarity on the persistent construction delays.

Homeowners confronted developer representatives over construction delays, demanding details on progress and the causes of the holdup. But residents say their questions were met with evasive responses.

When representatives were unable to provide answers, residents asked them to contact another figure, Rudy, present at the meeting.

According to homeowner Fezeka Dlephu, Rudy instructed the group to return to the site, where tensions escalated further. Residents then attempted to deliver a formal list of complaints to the pastor of the church.

"After begging to be heard and for him to sign the mandate of complaints as proof of submission, he took the documents with our demands and promised to speak with Rudy and respond within seven days," said Dlephu.

First-time homeowner, Mbongeni Mafoou, who paid interim interest for more than 14 months, which is far beyond the four months stipulated in his contract, described the crippling combined expenses.

According to Mafoou, the interim interest payments were around R4,000 per month, rising to R6,000, while he also paid rent for their current house of R4,500, vehicle parking R500, and electricity R380 each month, bringing his total monthly outlay to roughly R11,000.

"The stress was unbearable," he said. "We even dipped into our two-pot funds just to keep things running, which was never the plan."

Out of financial necessity, he said his family stopped paying interim interest, as the compound burden of rent, bond payments, transport costs, and insurance became unsustainable.

He revealed that their building plan, signed as part of their home loan agreement, differed materially from the approved plan. Features such as top kitchen cupboards, a steam extractor, and a sliding back door were omitted, which he describes as 'unauthorised changes' to the plan.

Another homeowner, Melokuhle Zungu, described his journey from excitement to despair. 

He has been paying interim interest since construction began in 2023, totalling more than R6,000 per month, with assurances from the developer that these costs would be refunded, a promise he says remains unfulfilled.

Despite keeping up with payments, he said he still has no house, nor clear communication from the developers or banks.

Living in a family home while continuing to pay interim interest and bond repayments has taken a serious toll on his mental and physical health.

"I am a freelancer, and when I don’t work, I don’t get paid, yet every cent I make goes towards this house I don’t have," Zungu said.

Residents say they have lodged formal complaints with the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and are demanding accountability from CSD Development, their conveyancers, and financial institutions involved in releasing funds.

Residents say they now await the seven days for a response.

Multiple emails and WhatsApp messages were sent to Rudy from CSD Development requesting comment and clarification on alleged claims raised by homeowners; however, no response had been received by the time of publication.

*The individual asked not to be named out of fear of victimisation.

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