Constitution says you have a right to housing: So why are there over 212 housing projects still blocked?

South Africa currently has 212 blocked housing projects nationwide, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane told parliament’s portfolio committee this week, as members of parliament (MPs) pressed the department and its regulatory entities over why housing delivery remains stalled despite the constitutional right to adequate housing.” MPs asked the department to return with a written framework on resolving blocked social housing projects, and reiterated calls for quarterly progress reports from both CSOS and the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority to track compliance with the Constitutional Court’s findings and the entities’ own turnaround targets.

Western Cape’s absence angers MPs Deputy Minister Tandi Mahambehlala told the committee that the Western Cape does not, in fact, operate a standalone department of human settlements at all.