Poor administration, corruption, and illegal invasions have severely undermined the integrity of the K206 housing development in Alexandra, leaving many intended beneficiaries frustrated and helpless.
Despite being a government-sponsored project designed to provide subsidised housing and promote income generation through rental units, K206 has not achieved its main objectives; instead, it has become a source of confusion, social conflict, and loss of dignity for rightful beneficiaries.
This was revealed during a DA oversight visit in Gauteng, prompted by public complaints and the ongoing failure of the City of Johannesburg’s (COJ) Department of Human Settlements to act. Despite being the custodian of the project launched in 2010 under the Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP), the department has failed to address the deepening crisis.
Many residents expressed outrage at the lack of transparency and oversight, with some units being allocated to the wrong occupants or hijacked altogether. One resident, who has been waiting for his title deed since 2010, expressed his frustration over his rental room being illegally occupied with the backing of the so-called “district committee”. Another resident mentioned that legitimate beneficiaries have, at times, been forcibly evicted due to a lack of necessary documentation. A third resident added that the housing allocation confusion stems from the City of Johannesburg’s initial decision to place people without granting them full ownership of either the flat or the rental unit.
See photos here, here and here.
Even more concerning is that residents have approached the Housing Tribunal, the Public Protector, and the South African Human Rights Commission, only to discover that the title deeds are ready, but City of Johannesburg is unable to issue them due to an ongoing dispute stemming from the botched housing allocation.
It is unacceptable that residents have had to wait 15 years to receive their title deeds. Ownership is a vital aspect of human dignity, as it provides individuals with an asset, a roof over their heads, and security of tenure for their families. This essential right should not be compromised by poor administration or potential corruption.
The DA Gauteng demands that the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo and Johannesburg MMC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mabaso, launch an urgent forensic audit on the K206’s 6,000 housing units. We seek information on the occupants, rightful owners, the number of units handed over, and the facilitator of this process. Additionally, we want regular updates on the status of title deeds.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would ensure that these units are allocated to their rightful owners, and title deeds are issued upon allocation. This would prevent the risk of illegal occupation that has put deserving beneficiaries in limbo.
The DA will persist in pressuring both the City of Johannesburg and the Gauteng Provincial Government to ensure this matter is concluded.