03 Aug 2017

 The Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development (MIHD) is not aware of any SHHA turnkey houses under construction in Takatokwane constituency which have defects.

Responding to a question in Parliament on behalf of the MIHD, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Frans van der Westhuizen said BHC was currently overseeing the construction of 41 turnkey houses in Takatokwane constituency and that of these, 20 had been completed and handed over while the remaining 21 were at various stages of construction.

He noted that the completed houses were handed over between September 13, 2016 and June 6 this year.

Mr Van der Westhuizen said in accordance with the BHC contractual agreement with various contractors who undertook the project, a period of three months was given as the defects liability period (DLP) during which any defects were attended to by the contractor at their own cost.

He said with the arrangement where cracks were identified during the period they would be attended to and signed off by the beneficiaries, the council and BHC.

He said the liability period for five of the completed units had ended, and that their contracts had been closed while the closure of the contracts for the remaining 15  units would be done continuously as the period for each unit expired.

Mr Van der Westhuizen said no report had been received by the ministry suggestive of any cracks, and urged MPs to encourage SHHA turnkey beneficiaries concerned to get in touch with BHC so that remedial works could be carried out during the liability period.

Takatokwane MP, Mr Ngaka Ngaka had asked the minister if he was aware that turnkey and SHHA houses in his constituency had developed cracks before being handed over to the owners, and if so, what measures were in place to rectify the issue. ENDS