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PHOTO ESSAY

R11bn unfinished Montrose Mega City Development housing ghost town

As Gauteng battles a worsening housing crisis, incomplete housing units near Randfontein in the West Rand remain vandalised and unoccupied. Daily Maverick photographer Felix Dlangamandla went to the ghost town on 7 May 2025.

Abandoned Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand, 07 May 2-25. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

By Felix Dlangamandla

9 May 2025

The Montrose Mega City Development, which was once touted as a large-scale solution to the province’s housing backlog, has been inactive since January 2024.

According to the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements (GDHS), the project was halted following the termination of its contract with SCM Developments, the appointed turnkey developer. The department cited “financial difficulties leading to its liquidity”. The government planned to build 5,600 housing units during the project’s first phase.

When Daily Maverick asked about the total amount spent on both phases of the development to date, GDHS spokesperson Terry-Ann van Eck, speaking on behalf of MEC Tasneem Motara, declined to provide figures, although reports suggest R11-billion was spent.

“As the development was in its first phase at the time of termination, detailed financial information on expenditure cannot be disclosed without a formal application under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).”

Read more: Joburg’s heart of darkness

In response to further queries from Daily Maverick about whether there are any plans to repair or complete the housing units, the department said: “The Department is actively engaged in negotiations with the landowner to purchase the land outright. This acquisition will enable the Department to take over and continue the development. Upon successful acquisition, a procurement process will be initiated to appoint a new developer to resume and complete the project as originally intended.”

It added that it had received “guidance from the Provincial Treasury on securing the site. A professional security company has now been appointed on the property to prevent further illegal activities, including vandalism and unauthorised access,” said Van Eck.

Collapsed staircases. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) — Collapsed staircases, Montrose Mega City Development, 7 May 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

A bath tub lying outside a block of flats. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) — A bathtub lying outside a block of flats, Montrose Mega City Development, 7 May 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

A toilette seat and vandalised walls. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) — A toilet seat and vandalised walls, Montrose Mega City Development, 7 May 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

Damaged sewer pipes. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) — Damaged sewer pipes, Montrose Mega City Development, 7 May 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

Abandoned Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) — Abandoned Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand, 7 May 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

Abadoned stormwater pipes at the second phase of the project. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) — Abandoned stormwater pipes at the second phase of the project, Montrose Mega City Development, 7 May 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

Vandalised block of flats. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) — Vandalised block of flats, Montrose Mega City Development, 7 May 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

A road at the back of the flats. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) — A road at the back of the flats, Montrose Mega City Development, 7 May 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

Phase two of the abandoned Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) — An onlooker stands in front of Phase two of the abandoned Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand, 7 May 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

Building plans lying on the ground of the Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) — Building plans lying on the ground of the Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand, 7 May 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

A tractor drives near the Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) — A tractor drives near the Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand, 7 May 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

Construction sign of Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) — Construction sign of Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand, 7 May 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)

Comments (8)

Slightly Irritated May 10, 2025, 07:49 AM

The cadres fed very well on this white elephant, is there any project the ANC hasn’t looted into the ground. This is all they have done in 31 years.

Johan Buys May 10, 2025, 08:31 AM

The community has stripped out all the roofing, plumbing and even the doors and windows. The best solution for this is put up a sign and call it the National Symptom Monument.

Robinson Crusoe May 10, 2025, 10:02 AM

Remember the first SONA speech given by Ramaphosa - in that speech he spoke of his vision of a new ultramodern city to arise somewhere in Midrand. Delusion and decay.

keith.ciorovich May 11, 2025, 05:27 PM

Promised a lot delivered delivered nothing positive for the country.

Patterson Alan John May 12, 2025, 01:14 AM

A glowing example of the ineptitude of the ANC. It beggars belief that after all the previous failures, they have still not learnt anything. It is all well and good to complain about 'White capitalism' but if that is reality, that is where the R11bn came from to be wasted. There is no hope for the country. If land is appropriated for more housing, I dare say the veld will then be littered with more derelict projects and the homeless will live out their lives and die homeless.

Patterson Alan John May 12, 2025, 01:18 AM

I would suggest a correction to the collapsed staircase in the outside photo. These look like a domino effect of canter levered upper balconies collapsing all the way down the building. Perhaps a good thing the building was not completed. How many deaths might have occurred?

William Dryden May 12, 2025, 10:21 AM

Ramaphosa should be dragged to this site and asked wtf have your cronies done with this development and what is he going to do about it. It's disgusting what the ANC government is doing.

libby May 12, 2025, 03:04 PM

Well done to the ANC - another spectacular failure! More lined pockets, smart cars, bling and party. Some smart arse cadre will possibly buy this for the price of a bread and resell the wreckage to desperate homeless people with the promise of fixing it all up soon. So it goes…

Sonnielord@gmail.com May 13, 2025, 02:22 PM

I don't know how much to trust the Sunday World but this is according to them the view of the liquidator: (edited for brevity) “During the course of development, it emerged that the local municipality was unable to provide bulk engineering services to the property due to financial constraints, and this led to the company being unable to continue with the development,” wrote Michael Lawrence Stewart of Bombani Liquidators & Trustees. “The company experienced severe difficulties due to the inability of the local city council to provide bulk services such as electricity, sewerage, water, etc. This, inter alia, resulted in it being unable to effect the transfer of certain stands, thereby negatively affecting its cash flow.”

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