Ten years later: why Limpopo residents are still waiting for Marapong homes
The Marapong Community Residential Units in Lephalale remain incomplete a decade later, with final delivery now projected for 2025-26.
For more than ten years, the residents of Lephalale in Limpopo have waited for the promised Marapong Community Residential Units (CRU) – but the housing project remains incomplete. The development, first launched during the fifth administration, was intended to provide affordable accommodation for the growing community. Instead, it has become a symbol of persistent delays, disrupted timelines, and alleged corruption.
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane recently admitted in a parliamentary response that the project will only be finalised during the 2025-26 financial year, a full decade after construction began. She acknowledged that the delays were the result of a range of factors, both internal and external.
The Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghta) cited a mixture of systemic challenges, administrative bottlenecks, and external disruptions. Payment disputes between the department, contractors, and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) led to repeated work stoppages, while underperforming principal agents were dismissed and replaced several times. Since 2016, at least six different agents have managed the project, each transition resulting in costly standstills.
Local unrest further complicated progress. SMMEs demanded inclusion in civil works, while strikes and protests erupted over non-payment of local labour. Environmental and relocation issues also played a role. The removal of asbestos-laden buildings required strict adherence to regulations, while informal settlements on the project site had to be cleared before construction could resume.
Natural disasters added to the woes. Flooding in the area, combined with the Covid-19 lockdowns, created further setbacks, stalling procurement and construction activities for months.
Allegations of corruption within Coghta and its service providers have cast a long shadow over the housing scheme. Simelane confirmed that a forensic report exists and is under review, but stressed that due process must be followed before action is taken.
Looking forward, the minister outlined new oversight measures to ensure delivery. A provincial steering committee, led by the deputy director-general, will now meet weekly to monitor outstanding work. Simelane emphasised that the project will finally be delivered, but after a decade of broken promises, many Limpopo residents remain sceptical.