Attention broadcasters: English audio clip from MPP Matlhodi Maseko attached.
In a reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Provincial Department of Human Settlements revealed that acts of extortion in the Western Cape have interrupted 25 human settlements projects between 2018 and 2022.
It is evident that the impact of this criminality is not only draining public coffers and halting critical service delivery but the human impact is also very real. The reply further revealed that the interruption of these 25 projects has a direct impact on approximately 18 721 beneficiaries.
Please see a table of affected projects at the end.
MPP Matlhodi Maseko says, “Fighting these faceless, criminal extortionists who deny beneficiaries access to the dignity of home ownership requires immediate cooperation across all branches of government as well as communities. Community members across the Western Cape must report to the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies when they have intel on cases of extortion.
Extortion at public infrastructure projects can be prevented where interested parties work together.
This will especially require cooperation between SAPS and other law enforcement agencies in the Western Cape to safeguard public infrastructure projects, such as housing developments, school building projects, and public transport infrastructure, from criminal activity.
As such, I have invited SAPS, the Provincial Human Settlement Department and other stakeholders to appear before the Western Cape Provincial Parliament’s Standing Committee on Human Settlements to discuss a way forward regarding the ongoing extortion, assault, and intimidation at infrastructure projects by unidentified crime syndicates in the Western Cape.
The meeting has been scheduled for Friday, 27 January 2023. I look forward to the committee meeting this month and hope that tangible strategies are brought to the table to curb the criminality and intimidation at infrastructure projects.”
| No. | Housing Project | Beneficiaries Affected |
| 1. | Forest Village | 3254 |
| 2. | Ithemba, Eerste River | 2400 |
| 3. | Blue Downs Military Veterans | 256 |
| 4. | Malibu Conifers | 269 |
| 5. | Highbury | 388 |
| 6. | Delft 3&5 | 1911 |
| 7. | Delft 7 | 505 |
| 8. | Delft Infills | 389 |
| 9. | Our Pride | 218 |
| 10. | Delft Landscaping | n/a |
| 11. | Blue Downs Infills | 256 |
| 12. | Fairylands, Paarl | 80 |
| 13. | Noordhoek, Bergrivier | 59 |
| 14. | Kalbaskraal, Swartland | 134 |
| 15. | De Hoop, Swartland | 395 |
| 16. | Citrusdal | 158 |
| 17. | Bardale Phase 5a (275 erven) | 275 |
| 18. | Macassar (Substation DP7097) | 1869 |
| 19. | Morkel’s Cottage, Strand | 154 |
| 20. | Gugulethu Infill (1004 erven) | 114 |
| 21. | Athlone Infill Housing | 600 |