Pretoria - North West Human Settlements MEC Desbo Mohono has warned that contractors who deliver substandard low cost houses and shoddy work face being blacklisted.
Speaking during the first district Housing Delivery Turnaround Plan Roadshow in Taung on Tuesday, Mohono said her department would not hesitate to blacklist non-performing contractors so that they are not contracted to do work for government.
The department would either scale down or terminate contracts with contractors who failed to deliver, as it aimed to accelerate the delivery of 5 225 houses in Dr Ruth Segomotsi District Municipality, she added. A sum of R274 million was budgeted for the houses in the current financial year.
For their part, contractors expressed support and optimism that the minimum of 150 housing units per month, set by the department to accelerate housing delivery, was achievable - provided their claims for payment were processed speedily.
Mohono promised her department's support to performing contractors.
Other new projects announced by the MEC included the construction of 1 000 housing units in Bloemhof Ext 5, Bray; an additional 500 units in the Mamusa Local Municipality, and an additional 250 houses for homeless Manthe villagers in the Greater Taung Local Municipality.
The roadshows are expected to move on to other districts in the province. Their aim is to strengthen partnerships to ensure that projects yield targeted job opportunities; ensure housing targets are met without compromising quality; and that early warning and monitoring systems are in place for accelerated housing delivery and prompt intervention.
