Thubelethu Housing Project

delayed

The Thubelethu housing project near Melmoth in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, started in July 2016 and aims to provide several hundred homes (between 500 and 700). As of November 2025, 166 houses were fully completed and handed to beneficiaries, 270 houses lack water, electricity, or basic fittings, and 430 houses are partially constructed. The project has faced delays mainly due to the lack of water and sanitation infrastructure, which is the responsibility of local and district municipalities. Additional funding has been allocated for bulk water services and water infrastructure, and work on electricity provision has started. The project has cost R102 million to date, with additional allocations of R61 million for bulk water services and R19 million for other water infrastructure. The King Cetshwayo District Municipality and Mthonjaneni Local Municipality are identified as bottlenecks delaying infrastructure access. The municipality is building a substation to ensure electricity access once houses are completed.