By JOHANNESBURG — Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements Tasneem Motara has firmly pushed back against allegations of irregularities in the allocation of housing units at the Jabulani Parcel K project in Soweto, assuring the public that all procedures followed official guidelines.
Addressing concerns surrounding the development, Motara emphasized that every single beneficiary was rigorously verified against the official housing demand database prior to any units being assigned.
The Three-Year Power Delay Explained
The project’s 704 completed units had stood vacant for approximately three years, sparking public frustration and questions regarding the delay. Motara clarified that the stagnation was entirely due to a lack of a bulk electricity supply.
According to the MEC, the Department worked closely with the City of Johannesburg to engage Eskom to secure power connections. Eskom finalized the installation process between late last year and early this year, which finally enabled the Department to complete necessary remedial work across all 704 units.
Because pre-allocations had already been conducted three years prior, those initial beneficiaries held confirmation letters stating they qualified. Though they were confirmed years ago, they could not move in until the electricity supply was successfully established.
Meanwhile, a second group of beneficiaries was drawn from the housing demand database dating back to 1996, prioritized from the project’s feeder areas including Jabulani Proper, the Jabulani Hostel, and surrounding wards.
A Warning Against Housing Scams
Amid the heightened attention on the development, MEC Motara issued a stern warning to housing applicants regarding potential scams. She cautioned residents never to hand over their housing subsidy application forms (C-forms) or personal information to unauthorized individuals.
“Only authorised officials of the Department can assist you. Do not believe anyone who claims they can help you if you hand over your C-forms or personal information,” Motara stated, stressing that legitimate assistance is only available through formal channels at the Department’s five regional offices across the province.
Acknowledging the immense pressure of the provincial housing backlog, Motara appealed for patience from the public. She noted that the government remains committed to addressing housing shortages, but cannot build all the required homes simultaneously.
