By Levy Masiteng
Only 263 houses out of a planned 1 667 have been fully completed in the troubled R900 million N12 Catalytic Housing Project in Matlosana Extension 10, also known as Jacaranda, in the North West, nearly a decade after the development was launched.
This emerged during an oversight visit by the National Council of Provinces delegation to the project in Matlosana during the week.
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According to the statement, the development was conceptualised during the 2015/16 financial year by the North West Department of Human Settlements and the City of Matlosana Local Municipality.
During the delegation visit, the parliament found out that the project has become mired in delays, infrastructure failures and allegations of poor communication with residents, with many houses still incomplete and some occupied homes lacking basic services such as water and electricity.
“We can properly account for the R900 million, which a bulk of it went to underground infrastructure. There is a misunderstanding. When we talk about internal infrastructure, we refer to engineering services such sewer systems and water connection that we put up before building the top structures,” North West Human Settlements Head of Department Kgomotso Mahlobo said.
The delegation also questioned why houses were built before bulk infrastructure was fully installed.
NCOP delegation leader Frederick Badenhorst criticised the municipality and provincial department for poor communication with residents and demanded regular public engagement meetings.
“Do not wait for the NCOP to come here before meeting the community. You need to arrange regular meetings with the public; give them information about the development, including expenditure breakdown,” he said.
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Residents further contradicted officials over electricity connections.
While officials claimed that Eskom would only electrify the area once 80% of the project was completed, community members said they had received written communication from the Integrated National Electrification Programme indicating that electrification would begin in July this year.
The project forms part of the broader Matlosana N12 West Catalytic Development, a flagship human settlements initiative designed to integrate Klerksdorp and surrounding townships through mixed housing developments and bulk infrastructure upgrades.
“We need a full report with specific details about any investigations and implicated individuals involved in the deterioration of this project. There is no law that says that if you resign because you have messed up, you cannot be followed,” said NCOP delegate Makhi Feni.
