By Buziwe Nocuze
• Elderly Gugulethu housing beneficiaries say they are still living in shacks and overcrowded homes while waiting for promised houses.
• The City of Cape Town says delays at the Gugulethu Infill housing project are linked to critical electricity infrastructure still being installed.
Frustrated Gugulethu residents are demanding answers after waiting years for houses promised under the Gugulethu Infill housing project along Lansdowne Road in Cape Town.
Beneficiaries say the City of Cape Town handed them key holders in November last year and promised they would move into their homes in December.
But months later, many families are still waiting.
Mark Mathebe from the Gugulethu Uprising organisation said residents are angry because they continue living in poor conditions while completed houses stand empty.
“When we started this organisation in 2022, there were no houses here. It was just open land,” said Mathebe.
“We fought for people to get houses, but now the City is failing to hand them over.”
The housing project started in 2018 but has still not been fully completed.
Mathebe said some beneficiaries have died while waiting for their homes, while others are elderly or living with disabilities.
“Out of 570 beneficiaries, fewer than 200 people have received houses,” he said.
“The City has not explained what is causing the delays.”
Seventy two year old Doris Mentjies said she has no permanent home and moves from one family member to another.
“I was happy when I got the key holder because I thought I would spend December in my own room,” she said.
“Now I fear I may die before living in my house.”
Another beneficiary, 73 year old Lydia Peal, said she still lives in a flooded shack with six relatives.
“Staying in a shack is stressful, especially during winter,” said Peal.
“We are supposed to be homeowners but we are still suffering.”
She said beneficiaries are losing trust in the City because officials have stopped communicating with them.
City of Cape Town spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibhongo said the project has faced many challenges over the years.
He said the City only took over management of the project two years ago and has since made progress.
The project is expected to deliver 1,004 homes in Gugulethu and Nyanga to qualifying beneficiaries.
Tyhalibhongo said houses are handed over as they are completed.
He said electrical infrastructure still needs to be installed before the remaining homes can be occupied.
“The City does not want to hand over the last units without electricity,” he said.
Pictured above: Gugulethu housing beneficiaries say they are tired of waiting for promised homes.
Image source: Buziwe Nocuze
