Human Settlements Minister Connie September has vowed to take strong action against contractors responsible for building sub-standard low-cost houses in the country.
This comes in the wake of media reports alleging that a certain contractor in KwaZulu-Natal continues to build shoddy houses, breaking all housing regulations. The matter pertains to a housing development in Phoenix.
“The department, a custodian of human settlements in the country, cannot allow a situation where contractors cut corners to the detriment of our citizens. We are expecting them to deliver nothing but quality homes for the people,” said September on Sunday.
The minister will write to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements and eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality to get clarity on these allegations, with the aim of rectifying the situation.
“The role of the National Homebuilders Builders Regulatory Council (NHBRC) … will also be examined, as such alleged practices by this specific contractor, and all contractors in the country for that matter, are not supposed to occur.
“The NHBRC would have to provide the minister with a full report on this or any other cases it is involved in, where contractors continue to build sub-standard low cost houses,” said the department in a statement.
September said her department “must never think twice in blacklisting such contractors and terminating their services should they be found guilty”.
Without interfering with the current court case between the eThekwini municipality and residents of Phoenix, the minister will gather all the necessary information on quality issues and make her pronouncements. – SAnews.gov.za
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