KWAADUKUZA — Residents of the long‑delayed Rocky Park housing project will wait no longer, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Wednesday after the KwaZulu‑Natal Department of Human Settlements (DHS) tabled a report documenting years of setbacks.
The DHS report, presented at a portfolio committee meeting, details a sequence of problems that have stalled the project: disputes with a prior service provider, audits, and the unlawful occupation of units. The report records that developer status and responsibility for the project were transferred to the provincial government in 2024, but that key obstacles persist.
Municipality accused of inaction
At the centre of the DHS concerns is the KwaDukuza Municipality, which remains the landowner. The province says the municipality has not taken the necessary legal steps to secure vacant possession of occupied units — a prerequisite for lawful allocation to beneficiaries. Commitments made in January 2025 to lodge a court application have not translated into noticeable progress, the report says.
Despite multiple follow‑ups by the DHS and requests for joint meetings, the municipality has been unresponsive, according to provincial officials. A meeting scheduled for the day the report was tabled was reportedly declined by KwaDukuza.
"Years of uncertainty for Rocky Park residents must end."
The DA has demanded immediate action, saying the municipality's conduct shows it has "no interest in those it is meant to serve" and that local leadership should be changed when voters head to the polls on 4 November.
What the DA wants
In outlining steps to unlock the stalled project, the DA called for a coordinated provincial–municipal intervention with clear deadlines and public accountability. The party also urged the finalisation of occupier profiling and socio‑economic verification, lawful eviction where required, and transparent beneficiary allocation once vacant possession is secured.
- Joint intervention plan between province and municipality with strict deadlines
- Finalize occupier profiling and socio‑economic verification immediately
- Progress lawful evictions with due regard for rights
- Transparent beneficiary allocations once possession is secured
- Regular public reporting on milestones and responsible officials
Local impact and context
The delays at Rocky Park strike at the heart of a broader housing delivery challenge in parts of KwaZulu‑Natal where land ownership, contract disputes and illegal occupation complicate large developments. For affected households, prolonged uncertainty can mean years without basic services or secure tenure while legal and administrative processes play out.
Municipal inaction, whether through capacity constraints or other causes, often shifts the burden to provincial departments and the courts. That in turn delays allocations, extends informal occupation and can expose both residents and the municipality to further legal and financial risk.
Accountability and next steps
The DA has demanded regular public reporting so residents can track progress and know which officials are accountable for delays. The DHS report underlines that any eviction process must comply with the law and respect residents' rights — a balance between restoring vacant possession and protecting vulnerable households.
To clarify the DA's demands and the DHS findings, the table below summarises the position and outstanding actions recorded in the provincial report.
| Issue | Status (per DHS report) |
|---|---|
| Developer responsibility | Transferred to province in 2024 |
| Legal steps to secure vacant possession | Committed in Jan 2025; little progress |
| Occupier profiling & socio‑economic verification | Pending finalisation |
| Municipal engagement | Multiple meeting requests declined; limited action |
The DA has signalled it will press the matter politically while seeking administrative remedies. KwaDukuza residents and community groups will be watching whether the municipality responds to demands for immediate legal action and a transparent allocation process.
For households in Rocky Park, the outcome will determine whether they receive formal allocations or remain in legal limbo. The DHS report and the DA's public call increase pressure on the municipality to either act decisively or explain why it cannot.
As the local government elections approach, the handling of projects such as Rocky Park is likely to become a focal point for voters evaluating municipal performance on housing and service delivery.
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