By Thapelo Molefe
Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Tasneem Motara, has presented a R6.06 billion budget for the 2025/26 financial year.
“This budget signifies more than just financial planning; it underscores our moral duty to restore dignity, security, and opportunity,” Motara said during her address to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) on Wednesday.
The budget breakdown includes R1.235 billion from the Provincial Equitable Share, R4.826 billion from conditional grants, and an additional R332 million earmarked for sanitation upgrades and managing land occupation issues in critical areas identified by the provincial government.
Motara detailed four primary programs aimed at achieving departmental objectives.
The Administration program, allocated R647 million, prioritises enhancing procurement processes, financial controls, and overall compliance.
The Housing Needs, Research and Planning programme receives R135 million and is geared towards supporting project pipelines, land release and investment in priority development areas.
The Housing Development programme gets the largest share of R5.05 billion and is tasked with delivering 7,503 BNG housing units, servicing 31 sites, upgrading hostels and creating 3,329 jobs through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and skilled employment opportunities.
Lastly, the Housing Assets and Property Management programme is allocated R229 million to facilitate the registration of 8,623 title deeds, resolve rental disputes and transfer properties to municipalities.
“In Gauteng, dignity is not postponed. Housing is not negotiable. And hope is not an illusion,” Motara said.
Motara shared the story of “Mama Maria” from Droogeheuwel, who received a house after waiting 15 years.
“This is not merely a story of shelter, but of dignity restored,” she said.
The department also reported relocating 518 families from informal settlements and servicing nine settlements.
It connected 900 homes to water in Bekkersdal and laid 14.1 km of sewer pipes.
Hostel upgrades are ongoing at George Goch, Denver, Jeppe, MBA, Murray & Roberts, and LTA Rethabile.
However, opposition parties harshly criticised the department’s performance, accusing it of failing the people of Gauteng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) MPL Mervyn Cirota said the department had failed across the board, including in spending allocated funds.
“In the current financial year, an amount of R450 million has been returned to the National Treasury,” he said.
He added that ongoing investigations into fraud, irregular expenditure, and corruption were deeply concerning and unresolved.
Cirota also cited poor coordination between provincial and metro housing departments, delays in issuing title deeds, and numerous abandoned housing projects.
“The practice of metros to divert essential funding for bulk services is a further obstacle in the completion of these projects,” he said.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MPL Remonde Abrahams accused the government of lacking political will.
“Even the MEC herself admitted there is simply no money to eradicate the Gauteng housing backlog,” she said.
“These are merely high-level presentations which are not addressing the reality on the ground.”
She pointed to stalled mega-projects, growing urban sprawl, and hijackings by construction syndicates.
“The 11 billion Montrose mega-housing project… has so far produced nearly 173 units,” she said.
ActionSA’s Emma More highlighted the long wait many applicants still face.
“Applicants from 1996 are still waiting while those who applied in 2000 have received houses,” she said.
“This failure in prioritisation must be rectified urgently.”
More also called for an audit of Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) housing to verify whether rightful beneficiaries occupy the homes.
“Too many rightful owners are displaced, while wrongful people occupy homes, in some cases due to deliberate misallocation by officials,” she warned.
Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) MPL Jaco Mulder said the very foundation of housing delivery was under threat.
“The reduction, coupled with an alarming 88% cut in capital payments, signals a drastic slowdown in infrastructure and land investment,” he said.
In her reply to the debate, Motara defended the department’s performance and accused some members of misleading the legislature.
She clarified that the returned funds were from the previous financial year and not unique to Gauteng.
“Another province that lost funds was also the Western Cape,” she said.
Motara acknowledged that the housing backlog was too large to be resolved in a single budget cycle.
“Are you saying that the 8,000 who will get houses don’t matter?” she asked.
She confirmed the department had implemented a six-pillar turnaround strategy, maintained an unqualified audit opinion, resolved 74% of past audit findings, and paid 100% of invoices on time.
While the budget sets ambitious targets, critics argue that delivery remains inconsistent, with mega-projects stalled, informal settlements expanding, and delays in title deeds continuing.
“A title deed is not a piece of paper. It is a declaration that this land belongs to you,” Motara said.
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