Delays in Macassar housing project leave beneficiaries in despair
Beneficiaries were told in November last year that construction would begin by February this year at the latest. However, at a committee meeting earlier this month, a City official said the project would be delayed due to procurement issues.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media
Frustration is mounting among Macassar housing beneficiaries, many of whom have waited over two decades, as City officials confirmed a year-long delay in the construction of 1,026 phase two units due to a subcontractor’s non-compliance.
Beneficiaries were told in November last year by the City’s mayco member for human settlements, Carl Pophaim, that construction would begin by February this year at the latest.
However, at a committee meeting earlier this month, the City’s executive director for human settlements, Nolwandle Gqiba, said the project would be delayed due to procurement issues.
In a recording of the meeting obtained by the Cape Argus sister publication, Cape Times, Gqiba told councillors that a subcontractor linked to the appointed contractor was not properly registered, meaning the tender process may have to be restarted.
NCC councillor Felicia Solomons.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media
NCC councillor Felicia Solomons warned that the lack of communication risked inflaming tensions among residents.
“There are people who have been waiting nearly 30 years to get a house and now, without explanation, they saw that houses were no longer being built. People who are rightly frustrated will be up in arms because of this,” she said.
Beneficiary Elizabeth Steenkamp, 55, who first registered for a house in 2003, said the wait has become unbearable.
Beneficiary Elizabeth Steenkamp.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
She currently lives in a phase one unit owned by her brother, which she shares with her 19-year-old daughter.
“They say they will start building in January, which means we will have to wait another six years again.
“Before coming here, I stayed in a shack for eight years. My brother was kind enough to let us stay here and I share a bedroom with my daughter,” she said.
ANC councillor Judy-Ann Stevens said: “When people were told last year that building would start by March they were excited, but now it has gone quiet. This project goes a long way back and has long been delayed and rolled over."
Pophaim said the City would provide feedback to residents once it had clarified its next steps.
“We are currently in negotiations on the existing contracts, failing which we would have to explore an acceleration plan,” he said.
He added that he hoped construction could resume by July.