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:
- (a) What was the (i) total cost and (ii) completion date of engineering services on erven (aa) 19464 and (bb) 21020 and (b) what is the total approved budget for the construction of the 261 top structures;
- whether any portion has lapsed or been reprioritised; if so, what are the relevant details;
- (a) on what dates were requests for land authorisation submitted to the national Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and (b) what responses have been received;
- whether the matter has been escalated through formal intergovernmental mechanisms; if not, why not?
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.
