Infrastructure
Question by:
Hon Dirk Wessels
Answered by:
Hon Tertuis Simmers
Question Number:
9
Question Body:
- (a) How many housing units in the province have been completed but remain unoccupied and (b) where are these units located;
- what are the reasons for completed housing units not being occupied immediately after completion;
- under which sphere of government does the responsibility fall for the issuing of occupancy certificates;
- what is the average turnaround time between the completion of a housing unit and occupation by its intended beneficiary;
- what interventions are being undertaken to reduce delays in the occupation of completed housing units?
Answer Body:
- (a) 294 Housing units in the province have been completed but remain unoccupied
(b) The units are located in Forest Village (38); Ebenezer, Plettenberg Bay (13) and Mountain View, Mossel Bay (243).
- The reasons for the units not being occupied is that they are First Home Finance units that are in the process of being sold with electrical supply and certificates needing to be finalised.
- Occupation certificates are by issued the local authority, in the Western Cape this would be the City of Cape Town and the relevant B municipalities.
- On BNG units, it is normal that handover is on completion of the units sometimes with slight delays. With First Home Finance units there is sometimes a delay with sales and transfer due to conveyancing processes, obtaining occupation certificates and occasional Eskom connection delays.
- The department has ongoing communication with local authorities and where necessary Eskom, to streamline the processes and ensure that units are ready for occupation on completion.
Date:
Friday, June 5, 2026
