Infrastructure
With reference to stalled and unimplemented housing decisions and projects in Khayelitsha, including the Jondev Housing Project (Record of Decision dated 10 December 2019) and the development of 261 top structures on erven 19464 and 21020:
- Whether the approved amount of R10 149 217 for the Jondev Housing Project was formally committed and/or transferred; if not, why was a signed Record of Decision not implemented;
- whether any portion of this budget was spent; if so, what is the detailed breakdown;
- whether the approval was rescinded, amended or allowed to lapse; if so, (a) what accountability measures were taken for failing to implement the approved project, (b) how many of the targeted units under the Jondev Housing Project received any intervention and (c) how many beneficiaries remain without assistance?
An application was made to the Department for a retrofitting project to address alleged poor workmanship and for Southern Cape Coastal Condensation Area (SCCCA) allowances on a project to be undertaken by the City of Cape Town. Funding is approved in terms of Bills of Quantities (BoQs) but limited to funding availability in terms of approved business plans. Ground verification was undertaken by the Housing Development Agency and BoQs were prepared based on this. However, no construction works were undertaken.
The Covid-19 pandemic affected all projects negatively, and after the pandemic, funds had to be reallocated to the most critical housing projects. There is no subsidy quantum available for retrofitting. Thus, unfortunately, the project had to be halted due to funding constraints. The Department has already made financial commitments on several projects across the Province, including several in the Metro region, and can no longer afford to absorb additional costs on projects. Grant allocations have been reduced by the National Department leaving just enough funding to complete the planned projects on the current Business Plan. The focus of the Department is to assist as many households as possible with new opportunities, opposed to providing beneficiaries that have already benefitted additional benefits. Budget cuts and financial constraints are beyond the control of the Department, and this obstacle will remain. Due to a strained fiscus, which results in significant budget cuts every year, the focus is now on the provision of opportunities for beneficiaries who have not benefitted before.
