Mangaung Metro Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi has issued a strong warning against opportunists allegedly fueling the rapid growth of illegal informal settlements, which he says have exacerbated the city’s housing backlog of over 73,000 units.
During his State of the City Address and the tabling of the annual budget in Bloemfontein, Nthatisi revealed that the metro has allocated more than R300 million to upgrade informal settlements in the 2025/26 financial year. The metro currently has 57 informal settlements, many of which have expanded due to illegal land invasions.
Opportunists Exploit Housing Crisis
Nthatisi and city officials claim that some individuals—many of whom already own homes or can afford housing—are illegally occupying municipal land to later rent out plots. This was highlighted during a recent invasion at Lourier Park, where some occupiers were reportedly driving expensive cars, suggesting they were not indigent.
Nokuthula Chakane, Mangaung’s Head of Planning and Human Settlements, explained that the city is now taking a proactive approach by legally allocating land to verified beneficiaries from the National Housing Needs Register, which lists over 74,000 applicants. Priority will be given to unemployed residents who have never received government housing.
Ensuring Funds Are Used Effectively
Past financial mismanagement has seen Mangaung forfeit millions in unspent conditional grants to the National Treasury. To prevent this, the metro has introduced a panel of contractors to speed up infrastructure projects, ensuring funds are fully utilized to deliver basic services like interim water and sanitation while working toward permanent solutions.
Chakane acknowledged that political instability and previous administration interventions had hindered progress but expressed confidence in the new leadership’s ability to stabilize service delivery.
Next Steps
The metro plans to fast-track land allocation in properly zoned areas while cracking down on illegal occupations. Nthatisi emphasized that while economic hardship drives some invasions, illegal actions will not be tolerated, and law enforcement will be involved where necessary.
Residents hope the new measures will bring tangible improvements, as the city works to balance housing needs with lawful urban planning.