Minister orders probe into Wallacedene housing

Human Settlements Minister Connie September is conducting an investigation into the Wallacedene housing scheme. Image: Department of Human Settlements

The minister plans to write to the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements and the City of Cape Town to get clarity on these allegations, with the aim of rectifying the situation.

The Human Settlements Department said September was made aware of shoddy workmanship when she visited the area in Kraaifontein at the request of community leaders.

Members of the community alleged that a certain Cape Town contractor had broken many housing regulations by building inferior homes and leaving many of them incomplete.

"As the national Department of Human Settlements, we allocate money to provinces and municipalities to build houses for needy families. It's for this very reason that we are required to follow our money through monitoring and oversight over provinces and municipalities," said September.

The department said the role of the National Homebuilders Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) will also be examined, as "such alleged practices by this specific contractor, and all contractors in the country, are not supposed to occur".

The NHBRC would have to provide the minister with a full report on this or any other cases it is involved in, where contractors continue to build sub-standard low cost houses.

September welcomed the move taken by the community to report the matter to the office of the Public Protector for further investigation.

"The minister will gather all the necessary information on these allegations and and make a decision on the matter soon," said the department.