The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) heard how a housing project had been on hold since 2013 because of an problematic beneficiary list. The NCOP took its flagship programme, the Local Government Week, to the Western Cape for oversight engagements on various community projects.
The delegation to Khayelitsha was joined by local councillors, Mr Kaya Kama (Ward 87) and Mr Mthwalo Mkutswana (Ward 97) where some of the projects are located. Mr Mkutswana told the delegation that when complete, Project 497 (Mahama Housing Project) will empower 271 beneficiaries through housing opportunities. The project involves two sites in Mandela Park on which bulk infrastructure has already been laid.
“The challenge with this project is ownership of land. The City rezoned this area but realised later that the land was owned by the provincial Department of Public Works. The department was not aware that it owned the land.” Mr Mkutswana said since this discovery the project could not progress to construct the top structures.
“Concerning the other site, top structures had been completed but got hijacked. Now beneficiaries are sitting with title deeds, but occupation is by someone else. Beneficiaries were meant to come from places like Site C and Gugulethu.”
He explained that this situation had brought about frustrations to the beneficiaries, some of whom are elderly women. The matter was referred to court for resolution. “In the database, it is indicated their subsidies had been long processed and approved, yet they do not have houses. They cannot be on the beneficiary list again. The Housing Development Agency (HDA) got involved and is assisting,” Mr Mkutswana said.
Once the court has given guidance on who the correct beneficiaries should be, then people’s names will be added on the database, he added.
NCOP delegation member Mr Mxolisi Kaunda, asked whether there was a council resolution on the rezoning of the 497 site and whether it is big enough for the number of beneficiaries. He learnt that it is the ownership issue that is delaying the project, not a council resolution.
Mr Kaunda said the project was one of the matters that the City and the province needs to explain on Friday.
The delegation leader, NCOP Chairperson Ms Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, said it was good that the bulk infrastructure had been laid but top structures, which are a responsibility of the province, needed to be build. “We must not allow time to lapse on construction projects. We want women, child-headed households and the disabled to benefit from this project. They must be our priority. We should not have 78 year-old women on waiting lists for over 20 years when 40-year-olds get given houses.”
Delegates were deeply concerned that fully serviced sites lay empty for so long when the housing and services backlog continues to grow.
Sibongile Maputi
18 September 2025
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