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In a reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Provincial Department of Infrastructure revealed that load shedding has increased the costs and completion time of human settlements projects in the Western Cape.

Costs for housing projects have now increased by approximately 7-9% as the prices of materials rose significantly due to fuel costs for generators and the high demand for materials as factories cannot keep up due to load shedding.

The timeframe for the completion of housing projects have also been pushed back as a direct result of the ANC national government-sponsored rolling blackouts. The parliamentary reply further revealed that many incidents of theft at housing development sites have also been reported where building materials had been stolen at night during load shedding hours.

MPP Matlhodi Maseko says, “Recipients of government housing are the most affected by the rolling blackouts and delays at housing construction sites. They will not only have to wait even longer for a chance to obtain their homes but their right to dignified housing is also affected.

While the Western Cape Government and contracting companies work hard to ensure that houses are delivered on time, rolling blackouts and the risk of even higher levels of load shedding remains a major cause for concern.

The DA, therefore, welcomes the interventions by the Provincial Government – such as the R88 million allocated to local governments as well as the R1 billion to be released by the Provincial Treasury - to make the Western Cape energy resilient.

While the National Government sits on its hands to end the crushing impacts of rolling blackouts, the Western Cape is being proactive and going above its mandate to ensure that government services and delivery continue uninterrupted.”

Issued by Matlhodi Maseko, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Human Settlements