CALVINIA, Northern Cape — Housing delivery in Calvinia remains a critical concern for residents in the Northern Cape, as decades-long waiting lists and allegations of administrative mismanagement overshadow the progress of a major provincial infrastructure push.
The province is currently in the process of constructing 4,000 housing units across five districts as part of an R1 billion housing project launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2024. However, progress has been notably slow, hampered by administrative delays and contractor non-performance, leaving many vulnerable residents frustrated.
For some, the long wait has finally ended. Janette Syms, who spent eight years on the Hantam Local Municipality’s housing list, recently received a brick-and-mortar home. “Now that we are living in the new house, it is very comfortable. It is warmer,” Syms shared, noting that her previous shack had holes in the walls and was very cold. “I didn’t even expect to get a house. It is also by the grace of God that I got the house.”
However, many others have not been as fortunate. Residents have voiced anger over what they describe as the manipulation of the housing list. Ragel Oranje, a 71-year-old resident, stated that she applied for a home a decade ago after her husband passed away, only to be repeatedly told she was “not suitable for a house.” Similarly, 61-year-old Janet Sass expressed deep frustration over broken promises, noting that she was never notified when recent houses were handed out to other beneficiaries despite earlier assurances.
Despite these growing grievances, the Hantam Local Municipality maintains that no official complaints have been received and no investigations have been conducted. Hantam Municipality Mayor Koos Alexander addressed the timing of the residents’ frustrations, suggesting that many only voiced their dissatisfaction after the allocation process was finalized. “Some of the complaints come after the applications are completed—200 of them—and where the housing is already finished,” Alexander explained. “They complain now when the last house is built.”
Northern Cape Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) MEC Bentley Vass acknowledged the historical challenges but emphasized recent improvements in the rollout. “There is progress. We can see that our contractors are more serious now because we’ve terminated the number of contractors who were not performing,” Vass stated. He expressed confidence that the R1 billion project would be completed before the end of the year, citing improved cooperation among contractors, municipalities, and communities.
The Hantam municipality was allocated 270 units as part of the broader R1 billion housing project, with the final units currently under construction. While this marks a tangible step forward, housing needs remain immense in the town and across the province, leaving many hopeful that they will one day secure the privilege of owning their own homes.
