The Western Cape Provincial Legislature is worried about gang violence and alleged extortion, targeting housing projects.
There’s been a pattern with some groups demanding protection money from project managers, especially in Cape Town.
In the most recent incident, the contractor for the Luyolo Housing Development in Gugulethu, was forced to suspend operations, in October.
That site has also seen several shootings over the past few months, where workers have been wounded.
In a recent parliamentary reply, the Department of Infrastructure revealed that R5 billion in housing projects in the Western Cape have been halted within the last five financial years due to land invasions and acts of criminality.
The standing committee on Human Settlements will invite the police, City of Cape Town, and the Department of Community Safety.
Committee chairperson, Matlhodi Maseko, says they want to hear what prevention measures are being considered.
“We cannot stand by and let criminals prevent housing beneficiaries from timeously gaining access to their long-awaited homes. It is time for the various stakeholders to engage and implement robust measures to put an end to the criminality at public infrastructure sites”.
