Political row grows over Montrose development

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27-07-2026
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Randfontein Herald
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The future of the stalled housing project has become the subject of debate, with opposition parties demanding answers while officials say plans are in motion to restart construction.

The stalled Montrose Mega City Project in Randfontein has become the focus of a political dispute, with the DA accusing the Gauteng Provincial Government of neglecting the development, while government officials maintain that steps are underway to revive it.

DA Gauteng Human Settlements spokesperson Evert du Plessis and Rand West mayoral candidate Jacques Julius raised concerns about the condition of the project following an oversight visit on July 21.

They described seeing vandalism at the site, including stripped materials, collapsed structures and missing infrastructure. They said the condition of the development reflects years of poor oversight and delays.

They said the DA intends to table questions to the Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Tasneem Motara, seeking clarity on the costs involved, accountability and timelines for completion as residents continue to live in inadequate conditions while the project remains incomplete.

In a public statement released on Facebook on Wednesday, July 22, the Department of Human Settlements stated that construction was halted in June 2024 after the contract of a non-performing contractor was terminated to protect public funds. At the time, about 394 units were under construction.

“It is currently finalising processes to appoint a new contractor and will communicate timelines once the procurement process has been completed. Security has also been deployed at the site to help prevent further vandalism,” the statement read.

The Randfontein Herald contacted the department on Thursday, July 23, and sought comment from Motara on the DA’s claims but was referred to the department’s chief director of Communication Services, Tahir Sema, who rejected the allegations that the project had been abandoned.

While the government maintains that delays were caused by contractor-related issues, the DA is calling for a forensic investigation and urgent action to ensure the project is completed.