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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West will submit written questions to the MEC for Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Gordon Kegakilwe regarding the poorly planned, incomplete RDP housing project in Toevlug, Ventersdorp. See pictures here, here and here.

From our oversight inspection with JB Marks Councillor, Combrinck Mogwata, earlier this week, we learned that some houses are built too close to the electricity supply cables and sewerage lines and that not one of the planned 360 houses are complete.

Raw sewage flows down the streets, posing a serious health hazard. Some residents have sewage dams on their property, making it difficult to access their only water tap and toilet on the premises. See pictures here and here.

This either points to the poor planning on the land surveyor’s part, or alternatively defiance on the contractor’s part. This poor planning will soon necessitate an emergency on residents’ part, as the possibility exist that these houses will have to be demolished.

The residents of Toevlug have been waiting almost ten years to receive RDP housing units. The reality that some might finally receive it just to be moved away at a later stage due to the Department’s negligence, is devastating.

According to the Department’s Annual Performance Plan, this project was to commence in 2016, but construction only started earlier this year and is estimated to be completed by 2020. So far, none of the houses have been completed and there are also no water and sewage connections.

Upon our arrival, no construction workers or equipment were to be seen on site. Residents say that the main contractor failed to pay the subcontractors, bringing the project to an abrupt halt.

The project is already over its planned budget, and at the rate things are dragging on, it is highly unlikely that the Department will reach its targets.

To this end, we call upon the MEC to supply us with an adjudication report containing the details of the tender. The MEC must also explain why the contractors left, when another will be appointed and supply a mitigation strategy for units that were erroneously built close to the sewer lines.

Many people in North West continue to live in appalling conditions due to the serious housing backlog estimated at 240 000 units.

Under the leadership of the DA, the community of Kouga Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape received 391 houses at Kruisfontein in less than two years. Another two housing projects are currently underway and another seven are in the advanced planning stage.

This, and many other success stories, proves that the DA’s unrivalled record of excellence in governance extends beyond the Western Cape, where we have delivered 213 000 housing opportunities and transferred more than 103 000 title deeds.

Issued by DA