In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Swartland Municipality is handing over houses to the beneficiaries of housing projects across the Swartland. This early Christmas gift to 145 beneficiaries will help restore dignity and hope to residents who have struggled for many years to gain access to safe shelter.
Swartland Municipality is currently involved in three housing projects, each at a different stage of development.
The largest of these is the De Hoop Housing Project, which is now in its second phase. During the first phase, 395 houses with title deeds were handed over to residents. The second phase will deliver a further 166 houses, with a budget of R31 500 000. During November and December 2025, fifty beneficiaries from this project will receive the keys to their new homes and the title deeds will follow in the next few weeks.
The Darling Project Phase 1 will consist of 139 units once completed and will be delivered at a cost of R27 109 000. Construction began in 2024 with the installation of civil engineering services, followed by top-structure construction during the 2025/26 financial year. By the end of November and December 2025, Swartland Municipality will have handed over 32 units to proud new homeowners in Darling.
The Moorreesburg Project, Phase 1, also began in 2024 and, by December 2025, 63 beneficiaries will be able to move into their new houses. Once completed, this project will deliver a total of 280 units at an estimated cost of R77 000 000.
During the first handover ceremonies, Executive Mayor Alderman Harold Cleophas had one clear message:
“This is your house. Take care of it to the best of your ability. There will not be another opportunity.”
Mayor Cleophas emphasised that every beneficiary must understand how fortunate they are to receive a house, and that homeownership comes with responsibilities.
“Handing over the keys to beneficiaries is always very emotional. It is almost always accompanied by tears of gratitude from beneficiaries who have waited for a very long time to have a place they can call their own. Every time we do this, we hear stories of people being evicted and exploited, sometimes by family members, sometimes by landlords. It is an incredible privilege for me to hand over the keys to someone and know that it has changed their entire life,” said Mayor Cleophas.
Housing remains an immense challenge for local governments across South Africa. The provision of housing is complicated by the common misconception that municipalities budget for and build these projects themselves. Housing projects are complete dependent on funding from provincial and national government departments, as well as the availability of suitable land.
Swartland Municipality includes 11 towns and villages, and it is important that housing projects are rolled out in a fair sequence so that all communities have an opportunity to benefit. However, the availability of funding and suitable land continues to determine how and when projects can be implemented.
Swartland Municipality’s approach to housing construction is highly collaborative. A housing committee is established for each project, and every contractor is required to appoint a community liaison officer who serves as an intermediary between the community and the contractor regarding employment opportunities.
By ensuring a collaborative and inclusive process, the municipality helps to minimise delays and maintain effective problem-solving structures throughout the project cycle.
The criteria for qualification are determined and enforced by the National Department of Human Settlements, which can also lead to frustration within communities. Regulations required by national government, and followed by all municipalities, state that IRDP beneficiaries must:
• earn no more than R3 500 per household per month
• not have owned property in the past
• include pensioners
• include military veterans
• include persons with disabilities
The waiting list for housing in the Swartland stands at 17 000 people. The need far outstrips the supply and is devastating to see the desperate need or residents. Swartland Municipality will however make every effort to ensure the allocated funds for housing projects are spent to create opportunities for our residents in need.
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