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Over 500 families desperate for housing will have to wait longer for dignified housing because the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements does not have a plan to rescue the abandoned and vandalised Hospital View housing project in the City of Ekurhuleni.

The project was vandalised in 2021, and according to the City of Ekurhuleni Human Settlement Department, it is estimated that over R60 million will be needed to refurbish these vandalised housing units.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) conducted an oversight inspection of these housing units, and we discovered that the housing units have been severely vandalised and will cost more than the estimated amount.

The bulk infrastructure previously installed has been vandalised, including water infrastructure, electricity cables, and substations.

Failure to complete the housing projects on time has resulted in them being abandoned and prone to vandalism.

The DA proposes that the Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Lebogang Maile, must rescue the project. The following must be done: assess the damage and how much is needed to refurbish the housing projects.

We will also be tabling questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to ascertain the department's plans to ensure this project is refurbished and how much is needed.

Issued by Mervyn Cirota MPL and Evert Du Plessis MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC and Spokesperson for Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development