The City of Ekurhuleni has come under scrutiny after spending R300 million on toilets for the Delmore informal settlement, only for many to be vandalized or stripped of their geysers. Meanwhile, frustrated residents say they are still waiting for the RDP houses they were promised nearly a decade ago.
Failed Promises and Frustrated Residents
Residents claim they were approved for government-subsidized RDP houses in 2016 but instead received toilets, which many refused to accept. Nearly nine years later, the housing project remains incomplete, with the municipality stating an additional R270 million is needed to finish it.
“We were promised houses in 2016, but till today, nothing,” said one resident. Others allege that despite being approved for homes, they continue to live in dire conditions while the allocated funds appear to have been mismanaged.
Municipality Blames Delays on Community Disputes
The city’s Human Settlements MMC acknowledged the delays but blamed community disruptions for stalling progress.
“The reason this project is in its current state is due to several disputes over the past 10 years, where residents would come to the site and stop construction for various reasons,” the MMC said.
However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni has criticized the city’s handling of the project, calling it a failure of national and local government to prioritize housing.
New Timeline Promised
Despite the setbacks, the municipality insists that construction will resume next month, with pipe connections expected to be completed by the end of June.
“We are only left with connecting the pipes to the feeder. By July, we should be ready to allocate service stands,” the MMC stated.
Residents, however, remain skeptical, having heard similar assurances before. Many say they have lost faith in the government’s ability to deliver on its promises.
Calls for Accountability
As vandalism and theft plague the existing infrastructure, questions arise over whether the R300 million spent on toilets could have been better allocated toward permanent housing solutions. Community leaders and opposition parties are demanding transparency and urgent action to address the housing backlog.
For now, Delmore’s residents continue to wait, caught between broken promises and a government insisting they must be patient.