The ongoing housing crisis at the Obed โMthombeniโ Nkosi development has taken another turn after reports emerged that some individuals have once again illegally occupied newly built RDP houses shortly after recent evictions were carried out.
The latest developments come weeks after the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, together with the Lesedi Local Municipality and law enforcement authorities, removed unlawful occupants from the housing project in an effort to restore order and secure the development for approved beneficiaries.
Now, the Local Business Fraternity of Obed Nkosi has issued a strong warning to the community, saying continued invasions could result in the collapse or abandonment of the entire housing project.
In a statement released to the communityโs social media groups, the organisation said the houses currently being invaded have not yet been officially handed over to government or lawful beneficiaries and remain under the responsibility of the contractor until the formal handover process is completed.
According to the statement, the contractor is now considering abandoning or forfeiting the project due to ongoing instability, disruptions and unlawful occupation of the units.
According to the Gauteng Human Settlements, the project initially experienced 48 illegal occupations, but this later escalated to 292 housing units before the evictions were carried out back in March.
โThe contractor has now reached a critical point where there is a serious possibility of abandoning or forfeiting the entire development due to the continued unlawful invasions,โ the statement read.
The fraternity warned that such an outcome would negatively affect many residents who have waited years for housing opportunities, while also impacting local businesses and jobs linked to the development.
The organisation further revealed that several local businesses and service providers involved in the project have reportedly not been paid for more than six months despite work already being completed.
โAs the Local Business Fraternity, we are deeply concerned because for more than six months many local businesses and service providers involved in the development have not received payment,โ the statement said.
Community leaders also claimed that some rightful beneficiaries were previously displaced by illegal occupiers, adding that their interventions are aimed at ensuring lawful beneficiaries eventually receive the houses allocated to them.
The fraternity appealed to residents to avoid unlawful occupation and instead allow legal processes to continue.
โIf the invasions continue, the risk remains that the entire project may collapse or be permanently forfeited, resulting in the loss of housing opportunities, employment, local economic participation, and future development prospects for Obed Nkosi,โ the statement warned.
Mapepeza News Media has sent an enquiry to the Lesedi Local Municipality and the Gauteng Human Settlements department for feedback.
