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Today, the DA laid a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) over the City of Ekurhuleni's continued failure to adequately address the housing crisis in the City.

Last month, we submitted a Memorandum of Demands to Premier Panyaza Lesufi's Office calling for urgent provincial intervention. To date, no response has been received. We must now ask for the commission’s intervention.

Ekurhuleni accounts for a housing backlog of 283 235 households. This figure was revealed in response to questions submitted by the DA to the MMC for Human Settlements in October 2025. While the City reported progress this April, citing the delivery of 2 980 houses and the handover of 2 890 serviced stands since April 2024, these interventions fall far short of addressing a housing backlog of 283 235 households.

Projects such as Hospital View, Esselen Mega Housing Project, Winnie Mandela Extension 25, Mackenzieville Extension Two and Vosloorus Extension 9 have experienced years of delays, disruptions and periods of stalled construction, leaving many qualifying beneficiaries waiting far longer than they should.

Section 26 of the Constitution guarantees everyone the right to have access to adequate housing. The Housing Act places a responsibility on local government to facilitate housing delivery and sustainable human settlements, yet for hundreds of thousands of residents in Ekurhuleni, that constitutional promise remains unfulfilled.

Through this complaint, the DA requests that the South African Human Rights Commission make appropriate recommendations to ensure accountability, improve transparency and accelerate housing delivery.

As the DA prepares to govern Ekurhuleni after the 4 November Local Government Elections, we remain committed to ensuring that every qualifying beneficiary has access to adequate housing. That is why it is so important for residents to register to vote and elect a DA-led government that will deliver on its promises, restore accountability, and get housing delivery back on track.

Issued by DA Ekurhuleni Mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane