'SOCIAL HOUSING CRISIS'

The GOOD Party has called for an urgent and independent investigation into the management of social housing facilities across Cape Town, following a wave of complaints from tenants.

Gatvol residents have slammed unaffordable utility bills, claimed that they are being mistreated by security staff and what they describe as inhumane living conditions.

Councillor Axolile Notywala said complaints have been pouring in over the past month, particularly from residents at the DCI Social Housing facility in Goodwood and Conradie Park in Thornton.

Issues raised include excessive utility charges, poor service delivery, and restrictive rules on visitors.

Notywala said: “I raised these issues during a City of Cape Town Human Settlements Portfolio Committee meeting on 5 June 2025.

“Despite the seriousness of the concerns, they were largely dismissed.”

According to Notywala, he was told the City was “already investigating” electricity tariffs and that other concerns were “not the City’s responsibility". A follow-up email sent on 10 June has still gone unanswered, he said.

On 22 June, Notywala attempted an oversight visit to the DCI Goodwood facility with fellow councillors but was barred from entering.

The incident, which he documented in a video, drew over 200 public comments from tenants echoing similar complaints across other social housing developments.

On 4 July 2025, the People’s Legal Centre (PLC), acting on behalf of tenants, submitted a formal request for urgent intervention to the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure, and the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA).

According to the PLC, under Section 12(1) of the Social Housing Act, the SHRA is legally obligated to intervene if there is “maladministration”, which includes governance or financial failure. The PLC letter asked SHRA to make such a determination by 11 July.

SHRA responded on 7 July proposing a meeting with PLC and DCI on 18 July. The PLC confirmed they are still taking instructions but will likely attend.

DCI CEO Fezile Calana defended his organisation’s practices, saying the housing provider has been transparent with tenants.

On visitation, Calana said: “People are only allowed 10 sleepover visitors per month and visiting hours are from 9am to 10pm. If people don’t leave, the security guards will tell them to leave. We are trying to maintain the standard, and people get annoyed with those rules.”

He denied claims that visitors are charged: “There is no such thing that visitors are charged for accessing the premises.”

Calana acknowledged some tenants were struggling financially but warned that rental boycotts could lead to removal from the housing system.