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Bad governance and maladministration in the housing sector are among other things that lead to problems surrounding the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses in the country.

These were the views of the people of Umsunduzi Municipality during their dialogue with Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.

The stakeholder dialogue was attended amongst other by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlement Ravi Pillay, Umsunduzi Mayor Chris Ndlela, Deputy Mayor Mr Zuma and Speaker of the Municipal Council Babu Baijoo and representatives from South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO).

The dialogue is part nationwide road show aimed at soliciting feedback from communities about the problems they have regarding RDP houses and the illegal conversion of panel vans into taxis.

"Two million houses have been built since the dawn of democracy, is it possible that more could have been built had it not been for undue delay of projects and getting wrong people to do the job," she asked.

The Public Protector went on to ask that had the money allocated for establishing many settlements not inflated and shoddy workmanship produced , could that not have been spent on more houses than on repairing work after charlatans disappeared with the money leaving behind incomplete or poorly constructed houses.

The Public Protector is currently conducting a systemic investigation on RDP houses and regulatory gaps in the conversion of panel vans into taxis.

During her visit in KwaZulu-Natal which started in Tongaat on Tuesday, the Public Protector received lots of complaints about people who jumped the queues, houses built on wetlands, houses in-accessible to people of disabilities and non-transparency by councillors on the allocation of houses.

Members of communities also called on authorities to educate them about the difference between taxis and panel vans.

Speaking at the meeting, National Regulatory for Compulsory Specifications General Manager Mr Bongani Khanyile said they will ensure compliance of converted vehicles and close gaps with regard to registration.

Public Protector will next week be in Free State and North West starting on Tuesday in Bloemfontein.