More than 100 RDP houses in Kekana Extension 2, Hammanskraal, remain under construction more than a decade after they were initially started.

Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Tasneem Motara, who handed over two completed RDP houses to beneficiaries in the area on Wednesday, revealed that over 100 houses in the area remain under construction, with some dating back 13 to 15 years.

Ward Councillor Adam Mashapa said the houses were abandoned by contractors whose contract with the government was terminated after it was discovered they were not registered with the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC). 

He said following a natural disaster over a decade ago that destroyed many houses in some parts of Johannesburg, the NHBRC conducted thorough checks on contractors, which revealed issues with those working in the township.

“The contractors who were building our houses were never registered, which led to their suspension from the project,” he said.

He clarified that the government did not lose money on the work already done by contractors, as they were yet to be paid for the construction costs. 

“As a government, we do not pay contractors money upfront. They build first using their own money and get paid after they build the houses,” he said.

Mashapa added that houses constructed by unregistered contractors were demolished nearly 10 years later due to compromised structural integrity, requiring them to be rebuilt from the ground up.

Motara explained that the current project involves completing houses that were started years ago but were halted due to various reasons, including contractors lacking capacity.

“They are just over 100 in total, but we are still confirming; they could be more. Today, we are handing over two. There have been others that have been completed and handed over to beneficiaries,” she said.

Most of the houses are for people who already hold title deeds and have erected shacks or temporary structures on their stands. 

Motara said the issue of incomplete RDP houses affects various Gauteng municipalities, but the government is committed to completing them through the “Siyeza Nakuwe” campaign, which promises to address all existing challenges and reach all deserving beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the completed houses. 

Martha Mokhudu, who lives with a family of six, expressed her gratitude to the government for finally handing over a four-room house.

“I have been living in a shack for 13 years. I am happy for what they have done for me. We used to struggle with water during rainy seasons because our shack is leaking,” she said.

Her daughter Dikeledi Mokhudu said the house was initially built in 2017 but left unfinished and without a roof before its completion and handover. 

“For years, the beneficiaries were left in the dark regarding why contractors abruptly abandoned the houses without completing them.”

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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