Maquassi Hills RDP houses remain incomplete despite the South South African Human Rights Commission's report being concluded in 2024
The commission embarked on an investigative inquiry to find out what transpired into RDP houses that are not completed after funds to build residents their houses was secured
The commission was supposed to have concluded the report into the incomplete RDP houses in March 31, 2024, however, that was delayed by few months
The commission has found out that, the incomplete RDP houses were not built beyond the foundation stage; those whose walls were built up to the halfway point; and those left without roofing
The SAHRC North West Provincial Manager Shirley Mlombo said, unfinished housing project were the focus of the inquiry
"Shoddy workmanship, inferior building materials and unfinished projects will be the focus of an inquiry by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) into RDP housing in Maquassi Hills & the North West" - The SAHRC North West Provincial Manager Shirley Mlombo
Mlombo said the commission has received a large number of complaints regarding unfinished and inadequate RDP houses in Maquassi Hills
In a statement released ahead of the inquiry, the SAHRC North West said, they received complaints about unfinished houses that included those that were not built beyond the foundation stage, those whose walls were built up to the halfway point and those left without roofing
“The complaints of inadequate houses relate to buildings that are inaccessible to persons with disabilities. They also relate to the use of inferior building materials and poor workmanship, and, as a result, this poses safety threats/risks to the livelihoods of the occupiers. The complaints that are currently active are from 2022 and 2023,” - Mlombo
Mlombo said one of the aims of the inquiry was to assess the prevalence of the challenges of unfinished and inadequate RDP houses in the province
“To this end, we requested the department of human settlements to provide us with a list of all unfinished housing projects in the North West" - Mlombo
Mlombo said the stakeholders who have been invited to make submissions at the inquiry included residents of the affected areas, the provincial Department of Human Settlements, the office of the Premier, the office of the Auditor-General, the office of the Public Protector, the Public Service Commission; Maquassi Hills Local Municipality and the Provincial Treasury
The SAHRC North West conducted inspections in other North West municipalities, including Maquassi Hills
“The aim of the inspections is to verify the information received first-hand and obtain information from residents on how the reported challenge has affected them as people” - Mlombo
The commission's report was later concluded in 2024 . To this date, residents still live without their houses completed while some residents have decided to move into RDP houses that have roofs and are without proper windows and doors
The Maquassi Hills Municipality's Housing Department has recently met with residents of the Ext 17 and 18 in Tswelelang to find an amicable solution following unclassified reports that RDP house and stand applicants who are not currently living in stands will be removed from the list and add new applicants who are in need of stands
These report sparked confusion and anger almost the residents
The Housing Department within the municipality has promised residents to go back to the drawing board and get back to the residents with an amicable solution
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