Human Settlements
By Thobeka Makume
Bloemfontein, Free State – 17 March 2025 – Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has vowed to tackle housing backlogs in the Free State, promising strong support to help the province meet its 2024-2029 targets for delivering housing units to deserving residents. Speaking during an oversight visit to the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality on Friday, Simelane stressed the need for teamwork and accountability to overcome delays and ensure sustainable human settlements across the province.
A Push for Collaboration and Accountability
Simelane’s visit to Mangaung formed part of a nationwide assessment of how provinces and municipalities are performing in human settlements programmes. She used the opportunity to urge the Free State’s provincial Human Settlements Department and Mangaung Municipality to stop working in isolation. “We cannot overcome the housing backlog if we work in silos. It’s only through coordinated efforts that we can deliver sustainable homes to our people,” she said.
While praising the progress made in getting contractors on-site to build homes for qualifying beneficiaries, the Minister raised concerns about several unfinished projects scattered across the province. “We are gearing ourselves for the current 2024-2029 Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) to deliver on our mandate. With our limited budget, we are aligning our plans to ensure that we effectively use our allocated funds,” Simelane explained.
She also sent a clear message to contractors and officials, warning that there would be “consequences” for those failing to deliver. “A delayed project means one senior citizen is denied his or her constitutional right to adequate shelter,” she said firmly, highlighting the human cost of stalled developments.
Free State’s Housing Challenges Laid Bare
Human Settlements MEC Teboho Mokoena welcomed the Minister’s commitment but didn’t shy away from listing the hurdles the province faces. He pointed to a string of issues slowing down housing projects, including contractor non-performance, vandalism at abandoned sites, community disruptions, financial constraints, and delays in approving claims or variation orders. “Budget constraints remain a challenge, and this impacts our programmes,” Mokoena admitted.
Despite these setbacks, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Mokoena revealed that stalled projects like G-Hostel and Dark and Silver City are now moving forward, with beneficiaries expected to start moving into completed units during the 2025/2026 financial year. To keep things on track, the province has brought in new contractors and introduced stricter monitoring.
On a brighter note, the Free State has already exceeded its targets for serviced sites. “By January 2025, we delivered 5 025 serviced sites against our 2024/2025 target of 1 755. Most of these are in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality,” Mokoena said proudly. This achievement shows the province’s ability to push forward, even amid tough conditions.
Upcoming Handovers and Big Plans
Simelane isn’t just talking the talk – she’s set to return to the Free State soon to officially hand over completed homes. Among them are units at the Dark and Silver City Community Residential Units and housing for military veterans at the Vista Park Catalytic Project in Mangaung. These handovers will mark a significant step in addressing the province’s housing needs.
The Vista Park project, in particular, is a game-changer. Extension 2 is expected to provide over 5 344 housing opportunities, while Extension 3 will add another 6 036. The development includes Breaking New Ground (BNG) units, social housing, First Home Finance options, and student accommodation – catering to a wide range of residents.
A Call for More Visits and Better Funding
Mokoena challenged Simelane to visit the province more often than her planned quarterly check-ins, suggesting a trip every two months instead. “We’re committed to improving service delivery, but we need regular support to keep the momentum going,” he said. Simelane agreed to keep a close eye on progress, promising that every cent of the department’s budget would go toward uplifting communities.
Recent reports from Bloemfontein Courant and posts on X also highlight the province’s efforts to tackle vandalism and contractor issues. For instance, abandoned sites have become hotspots for crime, pushing authorities to act fast. Meanwhile, Simelane’s no-nonsense approach has sparked chatter online, with some residents hopeful and others calling for quicker results.
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