Press Statement by James Masango, DA Mpumalanga CoGHSTA Spokesperson
-Newly built RDP houses in Rondebosch are without electricity and water.
-Residents occupying these houses are subjected to inhumane living conditions.
-We have asked the MEC to look into this and take action.
15 September 2026
Release: Immediate
The Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga calls on the MEC of CoGHSTA, Speedy Mashilo, to conduct an oversight visit to the newly built RDP houses in Rondebosch, Middelburg and provide a plan for decent and dignified housing. Despite being handed over to beneficiaries, these houses are still without sewer systems, networks, bulk water infrastructure and electricity.
The standards of RDP houses indicate that they should be designed and capable of carrying waste and discharging it into a common drainage system. Beneficiaries who are already occupying the houses have complained that they are facing challenges due to there being no functional sewer network.
The department needs to review all these challenges and take accountability. Noting these challenges, the DA expects the department to act urgently and engage with stakeholders to demonstrate the required commitment to restore confidence in the delivery of essential services.
It is unacceptable that beneficiaries of these houses are still suffering because of the government’s failure. Throughout the years, the department has battled with meeting their housing development targets, yet projects that are supposed to help the department reach these targets are abandoned.
Currently, occupants of these houses are subjected to inhumane living conditions, with homes without internal water connections and unsafe makeshift toilets.
The completion of such projects brings dignity to families. Under the incompetent ANC government, this has not been the case, instead, it has been an unpleasant experience for citizens who deserve low cost housing.
Under a DA government, we will ensure that we provide residents with quality infrastructure for water, sanitation, and electricity, and ensure reliable service delivery. Residents deserve proper sanitation and access to safe clean toilets with running water within their homes.
For media enquiries:
James Masango
DA Mpumalanga CoGHSTA Spokesperson
082 891 0717