National housing officials have "deliberately misled" Parliament about repair work being done at the N2 Gateway.
A parliamentary site visit to the flagship housing project yesterday revealed walls covered in damp, exposed pipes and electrical cables, blocked drains and collapsed walls.
"We are being misled at the expense of the poor," said chairman of Parliament's standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) Themba Godi.
The parliamentary delegation, that included representatives of the Scopa and Human Settlements portfolio committee, was shocked by the appalling conditions of many of the units which have not been repaired despite assurances from director-general of Housing Itumeleng Kotsoane during a recent Scopa briefing that these problems had been resolved.
"Unfortunately, once again this committee has been misled. We, as a committee, are very concerned and outraged that the officials have deliberately given us misinformation."
Godi said he would complain to the office of the Speaker of the National Assembly about the misinformation presented by housing officials to Scopa.
Scopa will also make recommendations to Parliament about the N2 Gateway's problems.
Godi said Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, who visited the N2 Gateway in August, was "eagerly awaiting" the recommendations.
"This was a flagship project and we need to appreciate the lessons we have learnt."
Godi said Scopa's report would be referred to Parliament for the concerns raised to be dealt with at the highest level.
The Department of Human Settlements said it was "at great pains" to ensure the defects identified were dealt with.
"There has never been any intention to mislead Scopa. This is a complex project involving all three spheres of government and we remain totally committed to ensuring its success in partnership with all stakeholders," said a departmental statement.
- Cape times
A parliamentary site visit to the flagship housing project yesterday revealed walls covered in damp, exposed pipes and electrical cables, blocked drains and collapsed walls.
"We are being misled at the expense of the poor," said chairman of Parliament's standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) Themba Godi.
The parliamentary delegation, that included representatives of the Scopa and Human Settlements portfolio committee, was shocked by the appalling conditions of many of the units which have not been repaired despite assurances from director-general of Housing Itumeleng Kotsoane during a recent Scopa briefing that these problems had been resolved.
"Unfortunately, once again this committee has been misled. We, as a committee, are very concerned and outraged that the officials have deliberately given us misinformation."
Godi said he would complain to the office of the Speaker of the National Assembly about the misinformation presented by housing officials to Scopa.
Scopa will also make recommendations to Parliament about the N2 Gateway's problems.
Godi said Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, who visited the N2 Gateway in August, was "eagerly awaiting" the recommendations.
"This was a flagship project and we need to appreciate the lessons we have learnt."
Godi said Scopa's report would be referred to Parliament for the concerns raised to be dealt with at the highest level.
The Department of Human Settlements said it was "at great pains" to ensure the defects identified were dealt with.
"There has never been any intention to mislead Scopa. This is a complex project involving all three spheres of government and we remain totally committed to ensuring its success in partnership with all stakeholders," said a departmental statement.
- Cape times
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