09 Oct 2022

Serowe Administration Authority (SAA) deputy chairperson has called for improved quality of houses built under Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) programme.

SHHA committee for SAA on Thursday undertook a tour of the ongoing and completed turnkey and home improvement SHHA houses in Serowe, Paje and Mabeleapodi where members observed that some recently completed houses were already cracking and had other defects.

Mr Solomon Dikgang stated that the cause for the defects could be that low quality material that was used hence the houses were cracking within months of after completion.

Another reason, he said could be that some stages in construction might have been omitted, compromising quality of the houses.

Mr Dikgang said many houses constructed under the programme had defects because of use of low quality material and appealed to the council to look into that and ensure the programme delivered quality work.

Committee chairperson, Mr Keneilwe Monageng explained that the tour was to appreciate progress of ongoing projects and view completed houses.

He said the programme was introduced to assist low and middle lower income households access housing in urban areas but most of the beneficiaries were reluctant to pay back the money they borrowed to build houses.

Mr Monageng said some beneficiaries stated that they were affected by COVID-19 and were unable to pay back.

Some state that they have lost their jobs while some say their businesses have been affected and were still recovering, said Mr Monageng. ends