News24.com | Extortion leaves almost 19 000 Western Cape housing beneficiaries out in cold

Western Cape Human Settlements and Infrastructure MEC Tertius Simmers. (Photo: Malherbe Nienaber)

• Housing projects in the Western Cape have been affected by violence, extortion, and intimidation by gangs over the last five years. 
• Human Settlements and Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers said 18 000 beneficiaries had been left in the lurch. 
• The Western Cape government spent more than R215 million on security to protect key housing projects in the province.

A total of 25 housing projects in the Western Cape have been affected by extortionists over the last five years, leaving almost 19 000 beneficiaries in the lurch. 

Human Settlements and Infrastructure MEC Tertius Simmers revealed this in a written reply to a question in the legislature posed by DA MPL and chairperson of the standing committee on human settlements Matlhodi Maseko.

Maseko asked Simmers how many housing projects in the Western Cape have been delayed, and how many beneficiaries affected, due to violence, extortion, and intimidation by gangs in the last five years.

In his reply, Simmers said 25 housing projects had been delayed, and 18 721 beneficiaries waiting for houses have been affected. 

Maseko said it was clear the impact of this criminality was not only draining public coffers and halting critical service delivery, but also having a dire impact on residents.

READ | City of Cape Town takes action against officials after arrests for construction sector corruption

She added fighting faceless criminal extortionists who denied beneficiaries access to the dignity of home ownership required immediate cooperation across all branches of government as well as communities.

"Community members across the Western Cape must report to the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies when they have intel on extortion cases," Maseko said. 

One of the housing projects in question is Forest Village, which affects 3 254 beneficiaries, while other communities include Eerste River, Mitchells Plain, Delft, Macassar, Kalbaskraal, Citrusdal, Swartland, Paarl and Kraaifontein.

News24 previously reported the Western Cape government spent more than R215 million on security to protect key housing projects in the province.

Simmers told News24 on Wednesday:

He added extortion, housing projects being invaded and units being damaged were robbing people of housing.