Tina Schuermans juge “essential to extend the audit (of the CPAS) to the management of the Foyer Anderlechtois“, also chaired by Lotfi Mostefa. “Lotfi Mostefa won the elections. And we ask ourselves a question: did people vote for him because they had guarantees of receiving benefits from the CPAS or public housing?
Between clientelism, social fraud and poor management, the Anderlecht CPAS scandal highlights worrying practices
“Unacceptable rumors are currently circulating, accusing the Foyer anderlechtois of cronyism in the allocation of social housing. These baseless allegations unfairly tarnish the image of our institution and call into question the integrity of our actions“, Lotfi Mostefa finally reacted in a press release. He plans to hold a press conference this Monday during which he promises to provide the documents relating to the allocation of social housing.
The Free did not wait until Monday to obtain the main figures for housing allocations, at the Foyer anderlechtois. They are in fact nothing particularly worrying.
The number of social housing allocated, after validation by the SLRB delegate then by the board of directors of the Foyer, has not increased spectacularly (187 allocations in 2022, 224 in 2023 and 202 in 2024). Exemptions, which allow people to bypass the waiting list in an emergency, have also increased (12 in 2022, 19 in 2023, and 18 in 2024) in relatively reasonable proposals.
“An audit of the processes and organization of the Foyer anderlechtois is planned during the first quarter of 2025, but as part of a turning point which concerns all housing companies“, specifies Yves Lemmens, president of the SLRB.
A rising star
How then can we explain this tension surrounding Lotfi Mostefa?
Several Anderlecht representatives fell out of their chairs when they learned the electoral score of this collaborator of Philippe Close, mayor of Brussels, and member of the stable of Ahmed Laaouej, boss of the Brussels PS.
gull“In Anderlecht, Lotfi Mostefa is the real mayor. He is clearly the most powerful man in the municipality.”
Lotfi Mostefa obtained the best score on the socialist list (3,590 votes, compared to 1,449 in 2018), ahead of the mayor and head of the list, Fabrice Cumps. “In Anderlecht, Lotfi Mostefa is the real mayor. He is clearly the most powerful man in the town.” slips a socialist source.
This rising star of the Brussels PS has built his popularity on the Anderlecht home (4,500 housing units.)
Communication campaign or electoral campaign: the free “good fries” from Foyer Anderlechtois have a bitter taste for some
“A mandate at the CPAS or at the Anderlecht home gives privileged access to voters. And Lotfi Mostefa has very regular contact with tenants“, analyzes an Anderlecht elected official. “You should know that in several CPASs in Brussels municipalities, the president of the CPAS gives the keys directly to the tenants who receive accommodation. Many tenants then say “I’m in alderman’s accommodation.”.
“I do not hand over the keys to future tenants myself”object Lotfi Mostefa.” To Anderlecht, the keys are handed over by the person in charge of the inventory.”
Certain personal promotion practices, however, may raise questions. In July, Lotfi Mostefa was singled out by his board of directors for a sponsored Facebook publication (paid for by the Foyer). There we could admire the socialist showing a newly renovated apartment to future tenants.
In mid-May, shortly before the regional elections, the president of the Foyer also engaged in a form of cronyism, by organizing the distribution of free fries in front of public housing in Anderlecht, via the Foyer’s budget.
During the municipal campaign, electoral posters with his image were also posted on public facades of the Anderlecht home.
The Anderlecht Hearth is a major card in the Anderlecht system. It also causes a last minute blockage in the municipal negotiations which take place between the PS and the MR-Engagés cartel. The initial agreement provided for the MR to inherit the co-presidency. But the PS, via Lotfi Mostefa, backed down, citing the legal impossibility of such a co-presidency.
Moustapha Akouz pushed towards the exit
The accession of Lotfi Mostefa to the presidency of the CPAS has undoubtedly strengthened its rise to power. At the end of June, Mustapha Akouz (PS), who belongs to another team, (Editor’s note: he had supported Rachid Madrane against Ahmed Laaouej for the presidency of the Brussels PS), resigned in order to assume his mandate as Brussels deputy, while he could legally have remained in place until December 1st.
Fraud at the Anderlecht CPAS: “It’s revolting, it’s taxpayers’ money, social assistance does not go to those who need it”
According to our information, Mustapha Akouz was pushed out to make way for the “PS Anderlecht champion”.
And then? Lotfi Mostefa conveniently waits until October 8, five days before the municipal elections, to announce (again) to the people of Anderlecht his “nomination” via email.
The Anderlecht CPAS case will be debated this Friday in the Brussels Parliament. She could still bounce back.
