The KwaZulu-Natal department of human settlements has been hauled over the coals over a housing project in which only 11 units are under construction.
The project is part of the uMbhayi housing development under uThongathi, which forms part of eThekwini metro.
The details are contained in a departmental reply to questions by the DA in the province, which wanted to know the status of the multimillion-rand project.
“The reply also confirms that the 248-unit uMbhayi development was originally launched by the department in 2017, with housing intended for residents living in a nearby informal settlement,” said Marlaine Nair, DA member of provincial legislature and spokesperson on human settlements.
The party further said it is unacceptable that the development is so far behind when KwaZulu-Natal already has such a massive housing backlog.
“KZN’s department of human settlements can no longer drag its heels,” said Nair.
“The informal settlement dwellers, for whom this housing is intended, have been waiting six long years.
“Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. There are many others facing a similar situation, yet the department does not seem to care.”
According to the reply, funding for the project is from both the department’s development grant and eThekwini’s upgrading of informal settlements grant.
To date, R87-million has been spent – R15-million from the department’s grant allocation and R72-million from the metro’s grant allocation.
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