ONE of Nelson Mandela Bay‘s biggest housing developments yet, the controversial R1-billion Zanemvula settlement, is in disarray amid revelations that 600 of the homes are defective and claims that the project managers are trying to cut corners by building smaller houses.
The problems threaten to push the development into the same sort of bureaucratic quagmire as Cape Town‘s troubled N2 Gateway project – which now has the same contractor. Like the Gateway project, Zanemvula was launched on the instructions of the national government.
A technical audit conducted on the durability of houses already built by the municipality before the project was taken over by state-owned developer Thubelisha has revealed that the 600 defective houses have to be either corrected or completely destroyed before the developer builds further houses.
The project has been hit by various problems, ranging from allegations of lack of capacity by Thubelisha to tackle such a project, to allegations of political interference and the involvement of many role players in one project.
Houses were supposed to be completed by December last year, but no foundations have yet been dug as contractors are only now being appointed.
Thubelisha, the newly appointed project managers, are being accused of now wanting to change the project specifications and the scope of the work by reducing the size of the units to speed up construction, but still getting the agreed amount.
The project involves the construction of about 1,700 units.
Thubelisha provincial manager Nicholas Tsewu yesterday declined to comment.
The municipality yesterday denied allegations by certain contractors that the project had stalled, but admitted that there were problems.
Municipal housing and land executive director Seth Maqetuka, yesterday said work and planning on the project was going on.
“Thubelisha are appointing contractors. There are issues which must be sorted out first before they can start,” he said.
Maqetuka revealed that, following a technical audit by the National Housing Building Research Centre, it was found out that some houses built by the municipality were faulty.
Maqetuka said: “The municipality is the developer, and Thubelisha the project managers. A technical audit conducted by the NHBRC on houses built by the municipality in Chatty Extensions 3 and 4 before the project was handed over to Thubelisha, found out that about 600 units are defective.
“Some are still under construction. These are additional problems which Thubelisha is inheriting. There are structural defects, and the foundations have problems. The NHBRC has recommended that some of the units be rectified and some completely demolished,” Maqetuka said.
He also expressed concern that there would be financial implications. This new problem had to be addressed before Thubelisha started building. The houses were built by six different emerging contractors appointed by the municipality.
Maqetuka said an urgent meeting between the municipality, the provincial government, Thubelisha and the NHBRC was being arranged.
The problems threaten to push the development into the same sort of bureaucratic quagmire as Cape Town‘s troubled N2 Gateway project – which now has the same contractor. Like the Gateway project, Zanemvula was launched on the instructions of the national government.
A technical audit conducted on the durability of houses already built by the municipality before the project was taken over by state-owned developer Thubelisha has revealed that the 600 defective houses have to be either corrected or completely destroyed before the developer builds further houses.
The project has been hit by various problems, ranging from allegations of lack of capacity by Thubelisha to tackle such a project, to allegations of political interference and the involvement of many role players in one project.
The aim is to resettle people currently living in the floodplains in and near Soweto-on-Sea, Veeplaas and Chatty.
Houses were supposed to be completed by December last year, but no foundations have yet been dug as contractors are only now being appointed.
Thubelisha, the newly appointed project managers, are being accused of now wanting to change the project specifications and the scope of the work by reducing the size of the units to speed up construction, but still getting the agreed amount.
The project involves the construction of about 1,700 units.
Thubelisha provincial manager Nicholas Tsewu yesterday declined to comment.
The municipality yesterday denied allegations by certain contractors that the project had stalled, but admitted that there were problems.
Municipal housing and land executive director Seth Maqetuka, yesterday said work and planning on the project was going on.
“Thubelisha are appointing contractors. There are issues which must be sorted out first before they can start,” he said.
Maqetuka revealed that, following a technical audit by the National Housing Building Research Centre, it was found out that some houses built by the municipality were faulty.
Maqetuka said: “The municipality is the developer, and Thubelisha the project managers. A technical audit conducted by the NHBRC on houses built by the municipality in Chatty Extensions 3 and 4 before the project was handed over to Thubelisha, found out that about 600 units are defective.
“Some are still under construction. These are additional problems which Thubelisha is inheriting. There are structural defects, and the foundations have problems. The NHBRC has recommended that some of the units be rectified and some completely demolished,” Maqetuka said.
He also expressed concern that there would be financial implications. This new problem had to be addressed before Thubelisha started building. The houses were built by six different emerging contractors appointed by the municipality.
Maqetuka said an urgent meeting between the municipality, the provincial government, Thubelisha and the NHBRC was being arranged.
The project was initiated by President Thabo Mbeki in 2003. Mbeki asked Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to arrange for the removal of the people from such conditions.- The Herald
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