By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has warned contractors that the days of not completing work on time and within budget are over, saying it has cost the government millions with already limited resources thus denying people of their constitutional rights of access to adequate housing.
Kubayi said during a recent community engagement and hand over of title deeds at the Dan Tloome Mega Human Settlements Project in Johannesburg.
Kubayi’s tough stance on lawlessness followed as the qualifying beneficiaries complained about not being allocated houses, while their houses are being invaded.
“My appeal to all contractors is please help us to hand over finished houses to beneficiaries [and] if you are subcontracting, please do the work. My mandate is to deliver a finished house,” Kubayi said.
While this development is a step in the right direction, Kubayi was adamant that there should not even be a single project that is delayed or blocked due to contractors not honouring their contractual obligations.
Before the community engagement where title deeds were issued to several beneficiaries, Kubayi, Gauteng Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development MEC, Lebogang Maile and the City of Johannesburg Mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda, launched two social housing projects, named the Ekhaya Gardens and Fochville Social Housing.
Ekhaya Gardens has a total of 333 units and is close to Roodepoort Central Business District, while the Fochville Social Housing, with a capacity of 258 units, is strategically placed within the mining and industrial sectors of the greater West Rand Municipality.
The two social housing projects will provide much-needed decent and affordable rental accommodation to people earning between R1 850 and R22 000 per month.
The launch comes a few days after the successful launch of Townlands in Tshwane, the current largest social housing project in the country with 1 200 units.
Between 2019 and 2024, the Department of Human Settlements through its agency, the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA), has managed to deliver over 13 000 units resulting in close to 50 000 rental and affordable units delivered over the years.