STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING:

6 NOVEMBER 2007

SHODDY HOME BUILDING IS BEING STAMPED OUT

Minister of Housing Lindiwe Sisulu has asked the National Home Builders Regulation Council to conduct a forensic audit of a major Eastern Cape housing project after residents raised complaints about poor workmanship at a Presidential Imbizo.

Two months after the Imbizo, Minister Sisulu yesterday returned to Ugie in North-West Transkei – as she promised she would – with the construction company responsible for building the homes, Power Construction, in tow.

She commended Power Construction for its willingness to return to Ugie.

Mr Sam Dube, a director of Power Construction, told the gathered residents his company did not turn its back on its projects, and was committed to making good where its builders had been at fault. There was no question that Power would accept responsibility for fixing structures, if any were found to have been poorly built. But 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.

Minister Sisulu told the community that she had asked the National Home Builders Regulation Council (NHBRC) to carry out a forensic audit of the approximately 2000-home project in Ugie. Government was committed to providing quality homes to the people, homes that could become tradable assets.

Minister Sisulu said: "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.

"If their work is sub-standard and they are unwilling to rectify it, the company would be denied any further government contracts.”

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

The Minister, MEC and Mayors joined the community in rebuilding the houses.

Enquiries:  Ndivhuwo Mabaya on 083 645 7838.

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