RDP SHAME OF JOB HALF DONE
Families forced to finish their houses themselves
SEVERAL families at Luthuli village in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga, are sick of waiting for their RDP houses to be completed and are finishing the job themselves.
Six years after the contractor abandoned work, these families find themselves with the burden of completing houses that were left at roof level. Some had windows while others did not. The houses have not been occupied, but have rusted windows and doorframes. They have not been plastered.
“The RDP houses were left incomplete in 2007. We have reported the matter to the authorities, but they keep making empty promises,” Refiloe Kgopha, 32, said.
Kgopha said she had spent about R15 000 on material and labour on their house which is still incomplete. Kgopha, her mother and five siblings live in a two-room brick structure in the yard while the RDP house is incomplete.
“The house was not even properly built. It was not divided inside. The toilet wall is not straight. The windows and doorframes were not straight.
“The person I hired had to fix all those things. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done on this house,” she said, adding that she was disappointed in a government they trusted to bring them a better life.
Mapule Mnisi risks her life by sleeping in her RDP house, which does not have windows. The doors do not close properly because the frames are not straight. But Mnisi has nowhere else to go and is forced to live in the incomplete house.
Reuben Kutane said he had spent more than R10 000 on building material trying to complete his house.
“It ’ s really sad. I have not completed all the work that needs to be done on the house. The house had no roof and there were no windows. It is not up to standard. The walls were not straight. So were the doors and window frames. I could have done a better job if I had built the house myself,” Kutane added.
Mpumalanga department of human settlements spokesman Freddy Ngobe said: “The department is generally aware of incomplete houses in the Thembisile Hani local municipality and other municipalities in the province.
“Our recent investigation into the matter has revealed that the contractor appointed to deliver the houses in question experienced several challenges in delivering the project.”
He said a total of 5 042 incomplete houses were discovered.
“The [incompetent] service providers are held liable for their actions,” said Ngobe, adding that a contractor was paid for the work done. He said the department applied penalties in relation to poor performing contractors or service providers. These may include, among others, the reduction of scope of work and removal from their database.