By 
RANDFONTEIN, GAUTENG — A fierce political dispute has erupted in Gauteng over the fate of the flagship Montrose Mega City project in Randfontein, exposing deep partisan divides over the province’s handling of its massive social housing backlog.
Following an oversight inspection of the development, the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) issued a scathing critique, characterizing the site as a scene of complete neglect and decay. However, the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements quickly fired back, arguing that the project’s delay was not a result of political inaction, but rather a deliberate, accountable decision to axe an underperforming contractor to protect public funds.
Ripped Doors and Exposed Steel: The DA’s Assessment
Launched in 2017 under former Premier David Makhura and former Human Settlements MEC Paul Mashatile, the R11-billion Montrose Mega City was pitched as a transformative, mixed-income development designed to dismantle apartheid-era spatial planning in the West Rand. Nearly a decade later, opposition lawmakers argue the dream has dissolved into an administrative failure.
Evert Du Plessis MPL, the DA’s Gauteng Spokesperson for Human Settlements, described a bleak scene following his party’s site visit to Phase 1 and Phase 2. According to Du Plessis, unfinished housing units have been systematically looted and vandalized, featuring stripped window frames, removed roofing, stolen bricks, and exposed reinforcing steel.
“Years of neglect, inaction and poor oversight by the Gauteng Provincial Government have allowed public infrastructure to deteriorate while the housing crisis deepens,” stated Du Plessis, calling the scene reminiscent of the “aftermath of a tornado”.
The opposition further highlighted that critical bulk infrastructure required to service the housing units remains largely absent. Blaming Premier Panyaza Lesufi and current Human Settlements MEC Tasneem Motara for turning a blind eye to the project, the DA announced plans to table formal parliamentary questions demanding a full accounting of expenditure, forensic audits, and a concrete rehabilitation timeline.
Government Fires Back: Accountability, Not Abandonment
Responding to the opposition’s claims, the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements firmly rejected the narrative that Montrose has been abandoned.
In a official media release, Department Chief Director for Communication Services, Tahir Sema, clarified that construction was placed on hold in June 2024 after the province officially terminated the appointed developer’s contract due to repeated non-performance.
“This was a deliberate act of accountability, not neglect,” Sema stated. “The developer repeatedly failed to meet its contractual and performance obligations, and the Department acted to protect public funds by ending the contract rather than continuing to pay for work that was not being delivered.”
According to the department, approximately 394 walk-up units were left in various stages of construction when the contract was rescinded. Officials confirmed that processes to finalize outstanding land acquisitions and procure a new, capable contractor are actively underway.
Addressing the widespread vandalism highlighted by the opposition, the department acknowledged the criminality on-site, noting that a dedicated security service provider has since been deployed to safeguard the remaining structures and assets while law enforcement pursues perpetrators.
MONTROSE MEGA CITY: AT A GLANCE┌──────────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────┐│ Project Vision │ R11-Billion Integrated Mixed-Use City │├──────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────┤│ Status (As of July 2026) │ On Hold / Contract Terminated │├──────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────┤│ Incomplete Units (June 2024) │ ~394 Walk-Up Units │├──────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────┤│ DA Position │ Abandoned due to neglect & bad oversight│├──────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────┤│ Government Position │ Developer fired for non-performance; ││ │ New procurement underway │└──────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────┘Broad Delivery Record vs. Ground Reality
The political skirmish reflects broader tensions regarding service delivery across Gauteng, South Africa’s most populous province, which faces continuous pressure from rapid in-migration, tight fiscal constraints, and limited land availability.
The DA argued that local Randfontein residents continue to suffer in informal settlements devoid of running water, electricity, or sanitation while waiting for housing promises that never materialize.
In defense of its broader track record, the Department of Human Settlements pointed to its performance metrics for the 2024/25 financial year, emphasizing that it surpassed several key delivery targets:
- BNG Housing Units: Delivered 7,237 units against a planned target of 5,914.
- Serviced Sites: Serviced 474 sites, well above the 233 target.
- Informal Settlement Relocations: Relocated 518 households into Mega Projects (more than double the annual goal).
- Title Deeds: Successfully registered 6,244 title deeds to secure tenure for beneficiaries.
The department also noted that while Montrose is halted, unutilized project funds were reallocated to other active provincial developments, and qualifying local beneficiaries are being considered for alternative housing allocations in neighbouring mega projects.
What Lies Ahead
While the provincial administration insists that terminating delinquent developers is a necessary—if disruptive—tool to protect taxpayer resources, the opposition maintains that poor initial vetting and long lulls between contractor appointments leave public assets vulnerable to destruction.
MEC Tasneem Motara is expected to address formal questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature regarding exact expenditure figures and the timeline for appointing a replacement developer. For the community of Randfontein, the political debate offers little immediate comfort as families remain suspended between bureaucratic delays and the promise of a place to call home.
