Hon Speaker, the City of Johannesburg has long been bragging about its massive Lufhereng housing development in Ward 53 in the far west of Soweto. Launched in 2008, it was projected to comprise 6 000 rental units, 6 000 bonded units and 12 000 RDP units as well as schools, clinics, crches, agricultural and commercial land.
Lufhereng is overseen by the City of Johannesburg's department of housing and is a joint development with the Gauteng department of housing and the Department of Human Settlements. The budget runs into billions of rands. As is the practice in all developments affecting local communities, a project steering subcommittee of the ward committee was elected to ensure that community interests are safeguarded.
The ward was recently thrown into confusion with the arrest of ANC Ward 53 councillor Busisiwe Radebe on charges of kidnapping in September. Initially refused bail, she was only released after a month and still has questions to answer.
For the past two weeks I have been requesting a meeting with the Johannesburg City's executive director of housing for an update on the development, but have so far been without a response. The city must come clean on the status of Lufhereng. Why has it been quiet on the arrest of Cllr Radebe? Suspicions have been raised in the ward that ANC factional interests over the awarding of tenders to ANC-connected contractors have led to her prolonged detention. I intend getting to the bottom of this matter to ensure that the community is not prejudiced, and that any whiff of corruption is exposed. [Applause.]