Brussels Housing Chair Seeks Parliament After Pano Probe

The chair of Anderlecht’s largest social housing company has formally requested to be questioned before the Brussels Parliament, following a damning investigation by the VRT investigative program Pano that exposed alleged political interference in the allocation of social homes. Lotfi Mostefa (PS), who simultaneously serves as alderman for Housing in Anderlecht and chair of the local Public Social Welfare Centre (OCMW), said tenants and citizens “have the right to clear answers.”

The Pano Investigation

On May 20, the VRT NWS investigative program Pano broadcast a report titled “De Anderlechtse Haard,” revealing that Mostefa had been systematically influencing social housing allocations through hundreds of WhatsApp messages and voice notes sent to his former secretary. According to VRT NWS, the messages show Mostefa personally selecting which candidates receive priority status, directing his secretary to push certain dossiers forward, and even attending social investigations at his own office — creating pressure on social workers.

In one message quoted by Pano, Mostefa wrote about a tenant: “No way we’re giving her a house.” His former secretary told the program: “The majority of priority dossiers are directly indicated by him on my phone, via WhatsApp.”

Scale of the Crisis

The Anderlechtse Haard manages 4,100 social housing units housing over 8,000 residents. Approximately 29,600 families are on the waiting list, with an average wait time of 13 years. Across the entire Brussels region, nearly 60,000 families are waiting for social homes.

Political Fallout

The revelations have triggered a political crisis in Brussels. Coalition partners MR, Les Engagés, and Anders have demanded Mostefa’s temporary suspension. As VRT NWS reported, Gaëtan Van Goidsenhoven (MR) stated: “The mentioned accusations directly affect the integrity of public administration and the trust that citizens can have in their institutions.”

Imane Belguenani (Anders) called the revelations “a slap in the face of the thousands of Brussels residents who are entitled to social housing.” Opposition parties N-VA, Vlaams Belang, Ecolo, and Groen have called for a parliamentary investigative commission. Gilles Verstraeten (N-VA) warned: “These are not isolated facts, but a system in which the most vulnerable people are put under pressure.”

Emile Luhahi (Groen) accused Mostefa of behaving “like an emperor giving a thumbs up or thumbs down,” while Bob De Brabandere (Vlaams Belang) argued it is “an illusion to think that the abuses are limited to Anderlecht.”

Legal Response

The Brussels prosecutor’s office has opened a fourth preliminary investigation into the Anderlechtse Haard, led by the Central Office for the Repression of Corruption (OCRC/CDBC).

Mostefa’s Defense

Mostefa has requested to be heard before the Brussels Parliament’s Housing Commission, stating he wants to provide “useful clarifications about the functioning of the Anderlechtse Haard and the allocation procedures for social housing.” In a written response, he maintained that “the chair does not make decisions about allocations and priority dossiers” and pointed to oversight by the Brussels Regional Housing Company (BGHM/SLRB), which must approve each allocation.

Broader Context

This is not the first time Anderlecht’s institutions have come under scrutiny. In November 2024, Pano exposed fraud at the OCMW of Anderlecht, revealing how undercover journalists easily obtained welfare benefits. Critics say little changed despite parliamentary hearings and recommendations.

Mostefa, described as a “stemmenkanon” (vote-getter), has risen rapidly through the PS ranks. He simultaneously holds three powerful positions — chair of the Anderlechtse Haard, alderman for Housing, and chair of the OCMW — a concentration of power that critics argue creates conflicts of interest and enables clientelism.

What’s Next

On June 1, the Brussels Parliament’s General Affairs Commission will examine whether to establish a parliamentary investigative commission. Mostefa is expected to be heard before the Housing Commission in the coming weeks. The criminal investigation by the OCRC continues, and political pressure on the PS to take action against Mostefa is likely to intensify.

For the thousands of families waiting an average of 13 years for a social home in Brussels, the question remains whether this latest scandal will lead to meaningful reform — or become another chapter in a cycle of broken promises.