GOOD Statement by Rosa Louw ,
GOOD George Municipality Councillor
27 February 2025
The Good Party is concerned about the lack of progress at the Reiger Park (Erf 325 East Pacaltsdorp) housing project in George.
The Erf 325 East Pacaltsdorp project began in 2018. With a contract value of R61.1 million it homes 1,091 Breaking New Ground units, 147 Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) units, 32 units for persons with disabilities, and 30 units for military veterans. However, 217 houses have not been finalized or handed over. They have stood derelict for years, resulting in vandalization. Work at the site has completely stopped, the builder’s contract has expired and no further Work Permit has not been issued by the Department of Labour.
Currently, there are approximately twenty thousand people on the municipality’s housing waiting list. The slow progress and the lack of urgency by the municipality and the Western Cape Government is astounding.
As GOOD we are concerned that houses remain empty while the need for affordable housing in George is so great.
GOOD also calls on the George Municipality to be more transparent in its process of approving beneficiaries. A total of 1,200 beneficiaries were approved in terms of the Provincial and National criteria, as well as the awarding policy approved by Council. However beneficiaries as young as 35 have received homes before elderly pensioners who applied in the 90s.
As GOOD we will continue to champion the fight for affordable housing.
Media enquiries: media@forgood.org.za