Foyer Anderlechtois Manager Denies Political Interference
The housing allocation manager at the center of the Foyer Anderlechtois scandal has testified that she never assigned social housing on the orders of any third party, directly contradicting allegations of political interference that have shaken Brussels politics.
Sabruina De Schepper, who has managed housing allocations for the Anderlecht public social housing company for twelve years, appeared before the parliamentary commission of inquiry on June 27, 2026. Her testimony provides the most direct rebuttal yet to claims that President Lotfi Mostefa (PS) exerted improper influence over housing allocations.
“It’s not the president who says: this housing unit, you must allocate it… Honestly, no,” De Schepper told the commission, according to La Libre Belgique. She stated she has followed “the same procedure from point A to point B for twelve years.”
The Scandal and Its Origins
The controversy erupted on May 20, 2026, when Flemish public broadcaster VRT’s investigative program “Pano” aired a report alleging widespread clientelism at Foyer Anderlechtois. Reporters claimed to have obtained hundreds of voice messages demonstrating that Mostefa personally intervened in housing allocation decisions — a practice critics have described as “a roof for your vote.”
Within days, the Brussels prosecutor’s office opened a new judicial investigation, and on May 28, searches were conducted at the Foyer Anderlechtois offices and Mostefa’s home. The case was assigned to the Central Office for the Repression of Corruption (OCRC), as RTL Info reported.
Political Fallout
The scandal quickly escalated into a political crisis. Flemish liberal party Anders (formerly Open VLD) threatened to leave the Brussels regional government if a commission of inquiry was not established. “A commission of inquiry is not an option, it’s an obligation… towards every Brussels resident who still grants an ounce of confidence to this region,” Anders president Frédéric De Gucht declared, as reported by DHnet.
The parliamentary commission of inquiry was officially installed on June 8, 2026, presided over by Bertin Mampaka (MR), president of the Brussels Parliament. The commission, composed of 15 full members and 6 consultative members, aims to complete its work by July 21, 2026, as La Libre Belgique reported.
De Schepper’s Testimony
De Schepper described Mostefa’s role as providing advice and passing on information from residents, comparable to what a concierge would do. “The president did not direct me toward candidate tenants or request mutations or transfers of housing… No. He gives me advice, he’s a person on the ground,” she explained.
She also downplayed claims of a “climate of terror” among staff, noting that all employees attended the staff party on June 17 where “we ate, we laughed, and some people danced.”
Analysis and Implications
While De Schepper’s testimony directly contradicts the allegations, several factors warrant caution. Her denial covers direct orders from Mostefa but does not address more subtle forms of influence, such as the “advice” she acknowledges receiving. The VRT Pano report claims to have hundreds of voice messages that the commission can cross-reference with her testimony.
Anderlecht has been a stronghold of the Socialist Party (PS) for decades, and Mostefa’s dual role as both president of Foyer Anderlechtois and alderman for Housing has long raised concerns about conflicts of interest. Brussels faces a severe housing crisis with long waiting lists, creating conditions where clientelism can flourish.
What’s Next
The commission of inquiry continues its work, with the capacity to hear additional witnesses and request documents. Its final report, expected by July 21, will either corroborate or contradict De Schepper’s account. Meanwhile, the OCRC investigation continues, and the political fate of Lotfi Mostefa — and potentially the broader PS influence in Brussels — hangs in the balance.
The scandal has reignited debates about governance and transparency in Brussels’ social housing sector, with potential reforms to how public housing companies are supervised now on the political agenda.