The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

As the recent General Household Survey (GHS) highlights persistent concerns about the quality of state-sponsored housing provided in the Northern Cape, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province reiterates our call for contractors in the R1 billion housing project to appear before the relevant committees of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature.

The GHS, released yesterday, confirms that 11% of Northern Cape housing beneficiaries report weak or very weak roofs while an additional 10% report weak or very weak walls. Both figures are higher than the national average, suggesting that there are specific problems in delivering quality homes on time and within budget to beneficiaries in the Northern Cape.

It is particularly alarming that these challenges persist, considering the effort and funds allocated to various contractor development programmes in the province. Why are we spending time and money on contractor development programmes if our people are still without strong, sturdy homes?

I requested a briefing from contractors appointed on the R1 billion housing project after it came to light that the Northern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements & Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) already fired a third of the contractors initially appointed on this critical mission and drastically reduced the scope of contracts awarded to others. While officials play blame games with contractors, it has taken 28 months to deliver just 480 of the 6 500 new homes originally promised by premier Zamani Saul.

At an average pace of only 17 new homes a month, it seems that the provincial government lacks the political will to tackle the provincial housing backlog meaningfully. And findings from the GHS suggests that even the few homes that are built, are not truly safe.

Issued by Gizella Opperman, MPL - DA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson for COGHSTA