Picture: Some of the incomplete RDP houses in Kgomotso village, near Taung
By OBAKENG MAJE
More than 2000 RDP houses were left incomplete across the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District. Some residents said they have now lost hope in the government as nothing has been done since the contractors abandoned these projects without any accountability.
One of the victims, Themba Ngoma from Kgomotso village, near Taung, said there was no communication at all after the contractor abandoned the project in their area. He said, they hope that the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Nono Maloyi will ‘walk the talk’ and restore their dignity.
“You will remember that, the aim of RDP houses was to provide housing to the poor. However, it seems that was not as clear-cut as it looked because there is a backlog now. We are left with incomplete RDP houses, while there was no communication at all from those who are in power. I think this project was halted back in 2016 and we were left in the dark for the longest time.
“We call on the government to ensure that, the RDP houses projects are viable and sustainable. It cannot be correct that, in the face of poverty, we continue to be ill-treated by contractors who do as they please. We call for accountability and the government should take a stern warning against those who deliver shoddy work,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Nono Maloyi who visited the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District on Wednesday, has committed that his department will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that communities receive proper houses.
Maloyi had a consultative engagement with mayors, speakers, and ward councillors from various municipalities that constitutes the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.
“The purpose of the meeting was to present all blocked, incomplete, and abandoned projects within the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality and further introduce 12 contractors, who have been appointed to fast-track the completion of these blocked projects.
“There are over 8700 blocked projects in the province, some of which date back to as far as 2002. So, it is the responsibility of the government to oversee their completion as this prompts a lack of trust and confidence from community members. We have a contract with the people of the province, where we committed to providing sustainable human settlements for them, which will bring and restore their dignity,” he said.
Maloyi further said, they are selfless in this approach and committed to ensuring that the people have proper houses above their heads. He added that, ward councillors will monitor the progress on a daily basis, citing that it is their duty to ensure that government funds are being used for their rightful purposes and effectively.
“We also warn contractors who delays the completion of projects or abandons project intentionally that the department will not hesitate to downscale, or even terminate their contracts for non-performance.
“Our government takes the issue of monitoring and providing quality work very seriously, therefore, if a contractor is found not to be performing well, the department must look for one who is capable and can complete the project within the stipulated timeframe. Preference will be on those who are already on-site and performing well, then increase their scope,” said Maloyi.
In addition, Maloyi acknowledged that, some of the delays are due to the department not processing payments of service providers on time. He said, they will engage as the department and try to resolve the matter as he would like to see payments for all the blocked projects being made within 15 to 30 days period.
The Guardian 