Residents of Geneva Court in Scottsdene, Kraaifontein, have endured persistent leaks, mould, broken windows, and faulty electrical points for up to eight years while waiting for promised repairs. The City of Cape Town, which manages Geneva Court as part of its Human Settlements rental housing stock, says maintenance must follow official reporting channels but confirms heavy investment in rental stock upgrades in the area.
Welma Claasen, a resident for nine years, described ongoing water damage from an upstairs unit dripping into her home, sometimes reaching her kitchen. “I have been staying here for 9 years now, and the problems here have been going on for 8 years,” she told Cape Argus.
National Coloured Congress ward 7 candidate Megan Fisher raised the issue with city officials on 7 September 2026, prompting the escalation of complaints to Mayco Member for Human Settlements Carl Pophaim and senior administrators. Fisher said she first emailed authorities about the mounting maintenance problems at Geneva Court, which reportedly affects around 25 units, though this figure remains unverified.
Carl Pophaim said the City had committed R900 million over three years to upgrade and maintain its rental housing stock despite no additional state funding. “That means we need to prioritise our funding, but we are doing so systematically,” Pophaim said. He urged residents to log maintenance requests through their housing office or ward councillor to ensure proper tracking via reference numbers.
Pophaim added criticism of political figures making maintenance promises outside official City processes: “It is disingenuous for anyone else to make commitments to residents based on their engagements to get service delivery done when due process with the City is not followed.” Fisher responded by rejecting claims that she was exploiting residents or acting outside these procedures.
The City of Cape Town’s own publications highlight recent upgrades and maintenance work in Scottsdene, including Geneva Court, detailing repairs to roofs, parapet walls, and shared spaces. A separate notice reports the completion of 28 kilometres of pipe replacements in Scottsdene as part of broader infrastructure improvements, though it does not confirm all individual complaints at Geneva Court.
Residents say despite these efforts, repair delays remain, and some issues persist unaddressed years after initial reports. While the City insists on following maintenance protocols, the full list of units requiring repairs and the reasons behind ongoing delays remain unclear. Community members continue to press for quicker responses ahead of the 4 November 2026 local government elections.
This dispute matters locally because it affects tenants living in City-owned rental housing in Scottsdene, who face poor living conditions. The political tension surrounding maintenance commitments also reflects wider scrutiny of service delivery by municipal authorities as election day nears.
Cape Flats News will continue monitoring further developments and follow up with the City of Cape Town and local residents for updates on repairs and progress at Geneva Court.