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The Democratic Alliance (DA) can confirm that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will assess whether the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) is violating the human rights of beneficiaries of incomplete housing projects.

Last month the DA wrote to the SAHRC and laid a formal complaint against the BCMM for its failure to complete the Fynbos 1 and 2 projects – where beneficiaries have been stuck in temporary shelters for the past six years.

I have now received the SAHRC’s reply confirming that an assessment of the situation will be conducted. (see reply here)

I recently conducted an oversight inspection at Fynbos 1 and 2, and it was yet again highlighted that beneficiaries live in very small rooms with no proper ventilation. Communal toilets are in a terrible state, sewage flows in the streets and no waste management systems are in place. This is a blatant violation of their rights to human dignity and to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being. (see pictures here, here and here)

The BCMM is littered with incomplete housing projects – to the detriment of struggling beneficiaries.

In October last year, I received a response from the Department of Human Settlements after I posed parliamentary questions regarding the total number of housing projects outstanding in BCMM since 2016. (see response here)

The response highlighted the following:

Data on the Housing Subsidy System (HSS) captured by the Eastern Cape Province indicates there are 72 projects within the Buffalo City Municipality, with 27 457 beneficiaries registered on them. Of these 72 projects, 27 projects have been completed since April 2016.

A total of 45 projects have a “running” status which implies that some expenditure has been incurred. These are at various stages of progress but are yet to be completed.

Since September 2020, 17 895 housing units were delivered, meaning 9 562 units are in projects yet to be completed.

Due to delays in allocating houses to beneficiaries, housing projects have also been illegally invaded.

The DA will be writing to the BCMM Mayor to request that:

The Municipality sets up a housing register and an adequate e-housing database,

That the Municipality submits a progress report on when Fynbos 1 and 2 beneficiaries will be allocated housing,

Measures be put in place to ensure illegal occupants vacate houses.

Only the DA can truly bring change through good governance and reliable service delivery.

Issued by The DA