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In a significant show of intergovernmental cooperation, national, provincial, and municipal leaders convened in Soweto to hand over 163 newly completed subsidised homes to qualifying beneficiaries at the landmark Lufhereng Project.
The ceremony marked a pivotal milestone for one of Gauteng’s largest urban human settlement initiatives. The project had faced protracted delays caused by severe funding bottlenecks and operational constraints before being unblocked through joint provincial and local interventions.
Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane, Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements Tasneem Motara, and City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Cllr Dada Morero jointly spearheaded the handover. The event highlighted the administrative alignment required to deliver large-scale social infrastructure, with national government setting policy guidelines, the Gauteng province managing construction, and the City of Johannesburg providing municipal planning and reticulated infrastructure.
Restoring Dignity and Unblocking Stalled Infrastructure
Addressing the community and beneficiaries, Minister Simelane emphasized the government’s focus on resolving stalled housing developments to address historical backlogs and restore human dignity.
“This project was stalled due to a lack of funds. We have unblocked it to ensure that our people are accommodated and that their dignity is restored,” Simelane stated.
The Minister issued a direct plea to the newly appointed homeowners regarding property stewardship, cautioning against the illegal sale or transfer of government-subsidised assets. “Do not give your house away, because there is no second house coming,” she warned, pointing out that state-funded housing subsidies are a once-off benefit intended to establish long-term generational security.
Stern Warnings Against Illegal Sales and Rentals
Echoing the Minister’s sentiment, MEC Motara delivered a firm administrative warning against illicit commercial transactions involving state-subsidised housing. She noted that the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements conducts regular compliance checks to uphold the integrity of the beneficiary allocation register.
“It is illegal to sell or rent out an RDP house. We verify allocations through physical inspections. If we find that a different person is occupying the house, we will have no option but to take it back and allocate it to someone who genuinely needs it,” Motara cautioned.
Motara explained that the Lufhereng Project was specifically designed to accommodate residents from Soweto, transforming former informal settlements into structured, mixed-income urban nodes. The master plan for the development spans subsidised units, bonded private housing, and affordable rental stock, supported by social infrastructure including public schools, clinics, and community recreation facilities. She commended the community for their patience throughout the extended development lifecycle.
Municipal Responsibility and Social Support
Focusing on the financial sustainability of the local municipality, Executive Mayor Dada Morero urged new homeowners to establish formal municipal utility accounts. Maintaining active accounts for water, sanitation, electricity, and refuse removal ensures the municipality can sustain service delivery across the metro.
Morero also highlighted social safety nets provided by local government, encouraging eligible pensioners and low-income households to register for the City of Johannesburg’s indigent management programme to access subsidised municipal tariffs and basic service relief.
Urban Spatial Transformation
Located west of Soweto, Lufhereng represents a core component of Gauteng’s broader spatial transformation strategy. By building integrated human settlements that blend diverse tenure options with local economic hubs, the state aims to undo historical spatial fragmentation and bring basic services closer to under-serviced communities.
Following the handover, officials from all three spheres of government reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining intergovernmental task teams to unblock similar stalled projects across Gauteng; ensuring capital expenditure reaches intended beneficiaries efficiently.
