Extortion halts Delft housing development
Cape Town - Over 2 000 families waiting for new homes in Delft will have to wait several more years as the mega housing project has been put on hold due to extortion.
Nearly two years after work on the R500 million site along Symphony Way came to a grinding halt following the murder of City of Cape Town staffer, Wendy Kloppers, the municipality has revealed that a new contractor has not yet been appointed.
The vacant land has neighbouring residents concerned as they say despite the arrests of the alleged extortionists, they have seen no progress on the site.
The rampant extortion and threats levelled against the previous contractor saw the company terminate their agreement with the City after Kloppers was gunned down in February 2023.
Following the murder, City manager, Lungelo Mbandazayo, launched a mammoth investigation into the extortion, which resulted in the municipality blacklisting several companies either owned or affiliated to alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield and his wife Nicole Johnson.
In June last year, police busted alleged hitman Warren-Lee Dennis for the murder of Kloppers and during his appearance at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, the State claimed he was a member of the Firm Boys gang.
Several months later, the SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit busted former DA Mayco member Malusi Booi and several others who formed part of Mbandazayo’s investigation, and slapped them with an array of charges in a R1billion tender corruption fraud case.
The accused, who consist of contractors and former City officials, were branded as the “Construction Mafia of Cape Town”, and are accused of colluding with Stanfield and Johnson to obtain tenders in the human settlement department.
But as the group are set to return to the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court soon, the Cape Argus has learned that the project remains on hold.
Mayco member for Human Settlements, Carl Pophaim, says the project was stopped following the murder and the continued violence and extortion that have impacted the project.
“This led to the withdrawal of the contractor and the cancellation of the contract,” Pophaim said.
“The City is finalising the appointment of a new contractor to complete the infrastructure contract that was left incomplete by the cancellation of the previous contracts.
“The Project Engagement Committee (PEC), and specifically the beneficiary representatives, have been kept abreast and included in all discussions.”
He further explains that the project is set to include more than 2 500 homes for people living in the most vulnerable communities, from Blikkiesdorp, Freedom Farm and the Malawi Camp.
Pophaim says if all goes according to plan, the first phase of the project will only be complete in 2028.
The Cape Argus understands that the delays have cost the City millions of rands, but Pophaim says the amount is yet to be determined.