R2.129 billion spent on repairing defective RDP houses

04 August 2014

In a recent reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Department of Human Settlements revealed that it spent R2.129 billion on repairing haphazardly built RDP homes in the past three years. 

We estimate that more than 35 000 new housing units could have been built with that money. 

I will submit further parliamentary questions to establish how the tenders to build these units were awarded and what measures are in place to have the contractors responsible blacklisted nationally.

It is unacceptable that the Department's National Rectification Programme has spent billions on repairing houses due to poor workmanship and thus in doing so exploiting the Human Settlement Development Grant.

The money should ideally be spent on building new RDPs. It is unfortunate that we have to spend the money on repairing exsiting RDPs that aren't of high quality. It takes money away from the construction of new RDPs to reduce the housing backlog. 

It is also worrying that people are living in RDPs in need of rectification as it compromises their safety.

The minimum standards for quality housing units in each province need to be vigorously enforced by the local government, provincial and national departments. 

Expenditure per province on the National Rectification Programme for repairing houses due to poor workmanship for the period 2011/12 to 31 May 2014:

The DA will continue to fight to ensure that each and every home constructed by the Department of Human Settlements is one of good quality that upholds the dignity of our people.

Statement issued by Makashule Gana MP, DA Shadow Minister for Human Settlements, August 4 2014

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