Joburg says it can only accommodate 70% of those on housing waiting list currently

Johannesburg
JM

Jabulile Mbatha

7 February 2026 | 8:00

According to Johannesburg Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso, the housing backlog of people is at half a million.

Joburg says it can only accommodate 70% of those on housing waiting list currently

Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso during an inspection on De Villiers Street in the Johannesburg CBD on 6 November 2025. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN

The Johannesburg Human Settlements Department has revealed it can only accommodate 70% of the people on its housing waiting list with its current project developments.

According to MMC Mlungisi Mabaso, the housing backlog is at half a million however, that number does not include those in informal settlements and hostels.

He was speaking on Friday in Doornkop, Soweto where he was addressing housing issues.

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Mabaso said the issue with Johannesburg is that it is highly populated and there is limited land space.

However, he says the city has some major projects underway to house 350,000 residents.

“We have southern farms in region G with the possible yield of 43,000 housing opportunities, in region D we’ve got Lefureng, Jabavu, region C Fleurhof, Hordrand, region F we have South Hills, in region E we are finalising development with developer and Gauteng Grand Central,” Mabaso added.

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