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Democratic Alliance’s Gauteng shadow MEC for Human Settlements Mervyn Cirota has called for an urgent forensic investigation into Alexandra K206 housing allocation crisis that could trigger widespread conflict and violence if not nibbed in the bud.

Cirota blamed poor administration, corruption, and illegal invasions which he said had severely undermined the integrity of the K206 housing development which has bypassed the rightful beneficiaries, leaving many of them frustrated and helpless.

Despite being a government sponsored project designed to provide subsidised housing and promote income generation through rental units, Cirota said the 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 an oversight visit by the DA’s Gauteng Legislature members, which Cirota said had been prompted by public complaints and the ongoing failure of the City of Johannesburg’s Department of Human Settlements to act. Despite being the custodian of the project launched in 2010 under the Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP), Cirota said 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 said 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’s initial decision to place people in occupation of the houses without granting them full ownership of either the flats or the rental units.

“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,” Cirota said.

The DA has demanded that the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo and the City’s 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,” Cirota demanded.