Gugulethu residents left in limbo as promised homes remain unfulfilled
Gugulethu residents said last year in November they were informed that in December they would move to new houses and were even given keyholders. However, their joy was short lived because that promise has not been fulfilled
Image: siyavuya khaya
Elderly Gugulethu housing beneficiaries said they were given key holders months ago, yet they are still without homes, continuing to live in shacks and overcrowded conditions while waiting for the Gugulethu Infill housing project to be completed.
However, the City of Cape Town said the delays at the development along Lansdowne Road are linked to critical electricity infrastructure that is still being installed, which has stalled the final handover of homes.
Residents said their hopes were raised in November last year when they were given key holders and told they would be able to move into their houses in December. However, months later, many families said they are still waiting, while completed houses remain empty.
Mark Mathebe from the Gugulethu Uprising Organisation said residents feel increasingly let down as they continue to wait for housing they believed was already secured. “When we started this organisation in 2022, there were no houses here. It was just open land. We fought for people to get houses, but now the City is not delivering on what was promised.”
Sadness and disappointment was written on the faces of the Gugulethu senior citizens as they shared their pain of living in shacks and the promised that was never fulfilled.
Image: siyavuya khaya
He said the ongoing delays have deepened anger in the community, especially as families watch completed units remain unused. The housing project, which began in 2018, has still not been fully completed. While progress has been made in construction, final infrastructure work has prevented occupation of the units.
Mathebe said the impact has been devastating for many beneficiaries, including elderly residents and people living with disabilities, some of whom have died while still waiting for homes.“Out of 570 beneficiaries, about 100 something people have received houses. There has still been no proper explanation for the delays, and people are running out of patience," he said.
Doris Mentjies,72, said she currently has no permanent home and moves between relatives while waiting for the promised house.
“When I received the key holder, I truly believed I would finally have my own place in December. Now I am afraid I may never get to live in the house that was promised to me," she said.
Another beneficiary, Lydia Peal, said she is still living in a flooded shack with six family members, making daily life extremely difficult. “Staying in a shack is very stressful, especially in winter when it rains. We were told we would be homeowners, but we are still suffering in the same conditions," she said.
Community members said they are now calling for urgent clarity and accountability, insisting that the delays must be resolved so that long-awaited housing can finally be delivered.
City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said the Gugulethu Infill Housing Project has been a complex development that has faced challenges over several years. He said the City of Cape Town only took over management of the project about two years ago in an effort to speed up delivery and complete outstanding work.
“This has been a complex project, stretching many years. The City initially was not the main project manager. We however, took over this project about two years ago to get delivery done, and since we have taken over this project, much progress has been made,” said Tyhalibongo.
He said the city remains committed to completing the project for beneficiaries and their families. Tyhalibongo said the Gugulethu Infill Housing Project will ultimately deliver 1 004 homes, including units at Erf 8448 in Gugulethu and Mau Mau in Nyanga.
He added that the procurement process for a replacement contractor for the Stage B portion of the project is being prioritised and fast-tracked. “The construction tender to complete the balance of the work will be advertised today (May 29) with the intention of making an award during November 2026,” said Tyhalibongo.