UGIE: - The construction company that built approximately 2000 homes for the poor in this north-west Transkei town yesterday returned to Ugie to tell the community it would accept responsibility for fixing structures if any were found to have been poorly constructed.

The return of Power Construction to the area follows complaints about shoddy work raised by the community during a Presidential Indaba about two months ago. Minister of Housing Lindiwe Sisulu was at the Indaba and promised she would return to Ugie with the construction company.

Yesterday, residents who packed out a marquee to listen to Ms Sisulu were again given an opportunity to speak about the state of their houses. They spoke of problems with the roofs and plumbing, and of crumbling cement.

Ms Sisulu told the community that she had asked the National Home Builders Regulation Council (NHBRC) to carry out a forensic audit of the houses built in Ugie. Government was committed to providing quality homes to the people, homes that could become tradable assets.

Mr Sam Dube, a director of Power Construction, told the gathering his company did not turn its back on its projects, and was committed to making good if it had been at fault. He pointed out that the area had recently been buffeted by an extreme storm, and that many of the houses had been built prior to new NHBRC building standards.

Speaking after the gathering, before handing over two homes that had been rebuilt after totally collapsing during winter, Ms Sisulu said she was very happy with the day's proceedings. She commended Power Construction for its willingness to return to Ugie.

"The NHBRC audit will determine the quality of the building work. We need to understand what went wrong here. If the contractor was at fault, he is here and committed to making good. If the municipality was at fault, the municipality is here, too.

"We want to send a very strong message that if we encounter shoddy work we will ensure that those responsible rectify the situation. If their work is sub-standard, construction companies will be deregistered and black-listed," Ms Sisulu said.

The gathering was also attended by Eastern Cape MEC for Housing Ms Tokozile Xasa, and the mayors of Elundini Municipality and Ukahlamba District Municipality.

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