Parliament, Thursday, 18 September 2025 – Permanent Delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) have called on roleplayers in Gugulethu to collaborate with the broader City of Cape Town Metropolitan Council to address challenges causing delays or stalled housing projects in the area.
The delegation, led by the NCOP House Chairperson for Members’ Support and International Relations, Mr Bheki Radebe, visited Gugulethu today as part of the NCOP Local Government Week programme.
The Local Government Week (LGW) is a key feature of the NCOP’s annual programme that aims to foster national reflection on issues impacting local government and find solutions for improved service delivery and good governance. This year, the programme is held under the theme: “Restoring the dignity of our people through spatial planning, provision of human settlement and water and sanitation.”
The delegation conducted oversight visits to the Gugulethu Infill Housing Project, ERF 2849 Maumau Housing Project in Nyanga, and Airport Main Site and Airport Infill Housing Projects. These projects are part of the Integrated Sustainable Human Settlements programme, popularly known as Breaking New Ground (BNG), which aims, among other things, to eradicate informal settlements in the shortest possible time.
Mr Radebe said the rights of the people of Gugulethu have been violated for many years. Some residents were supposed to be in their houses many years ago. “The NCOP calls on the roleplayers in Gugulethu to collaborate and overcome challenges that cause delays or stoppages in the human settlement projects in the area,” said Mr Radebe.
The City of Cape Town Metropolitan Council took the housing projects in Gugulethu from the provincial government and has implemented them. However, the implementation of the projects encountered delays due to challenges such as extortion and vandalism, which affected the work of contractors. The delegation bemoaned the impact of this, as some people in Gugulethu have been denied the right to proper housing since 2017.
Mr Radebe also said it is encouraging that most of the problems, such as the approval plans taking too long, the hiring of foreign nationals and minimal participation of local contractors, will now be resolved.
Today, the NCOP delegation visiting Gugulethu will conduct oversight visits at the Thabo Mbeki and Tsunami Informal Settlements housing projects. On Friday, the delegation will report on its observations during the NCOP plenary session. The plenary session will address issues arising from the Local Government Week programme and aims to ensure that mechanisms are put in place to address policy implementation weaknesses and coordination gaps in areas visited during the Local Government Week programme.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE LEADER OF THE NCOP DELEGATION VISITING GUGULETHU, HOUSE CHAIRPERSON, MR BHEKI RADEBE.
For media interviews with NCOP Leasder of the delegation visiting Gugulethu and details of the programme, please contact:
Mr. Mlindi Mpindi (Media Liaison Official)
081 716 7329
Email: mmpindi@parliament.gov.za
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