HUMAN Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale has issued his strongest warning to home builders yet – build shoddy houses and you’ll never build in this country again.
Sexwale opened the 12th International Housing and Home Warranty Conference in the city yesterday, before handing over eight state-of-the-art “green” legacy homes to “special needs” beneficiaries in Blue Downs.
But before posing for pictures and engaging in a spot of back-patting with the beneficiaries, Sexwale said: “I’m not here for the cameras.”
“If these houses fall, gaan ek vir iemand donner (I’m going to beat up someone). Builders and contractors must build quality homes. A home is someone’s pride and joy. It gives people dignity. If anything goes wrong with any building project, we are coming after you. You won’t build here again.”
Sexwale instructed the chairman of the National Home Builders Registration Council to fire any contractor who built sub-standard homes or who was corrupt.
“We don’t take the poor for granted,” he said. “If houses are built, it should be a quality product and affordable. Consumer protection and satisfaction is of utmost importance.”
The three-bedroom “eco-friendly” duplexes, two of which were constructed with concrete from the Athlone cooling towers, were built in under three months.
Yesterday Sexwale, Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille and Human Settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela handed over the keys to eight beneficiaries, among them the grandmother and guardian of the twins whose mother, Bonelwa Tilikana, died in an accident near Beaufort West in March.
The twins were born after the critically injured Tilikana, 20, was airlifted to the Tygerberg Hospital, where she died a few days later.
Thozama Payi, Tilikana’s mother, and the twins Linamandla and Likhona were present to accept the keys to their new house.
“It’s been very, very difficult, but I’m glad we at least have a house now,” said Payi. “It makes it so much easier.”
Another beneficiary, Bongile Xolelo, lived in a dilapidated hostel in Langa with his 12-year-old disabled son.
“This is the proudest day of my life,” Xolelo said. “My boy, Mesuli, just smiled when I told him we are moving into our own house. He is very happy.”
De Lille said: “These homes must be looked after and appreciated. I don’t want to come here in a year and find that you have sold your house.”
Sexwale warned beneficiaries that he would be making random visits to the area to “check if you are keeping your end of the deal”.
Sexwale was also joined by the Housing Minister of Mali, Yacouba Diallo, who was keen to have similar “eco-friendly” houses built in his country.
During the handover, a group of about 20 disgruntled residents complained that they had been on the waiting list for decades and had still not received houses.
- Cape Argus
Sexwale opened the 12th International Housing and Home Warranty Conference in the city yesterday, before handing over eight state-of-the-art “green” legacy homes to “special needs” beneficiaries in Blue Downs.
But before posing for pictures and engaging in a spot of back-patting with the beneficiaries, Sexwale said: “I’m not here for the cameras.”
“If these houses fall, gaan ek vir iemand donner (I’m going to beat up someone). Builders and contractors must build quality homes. A home is someone’s pride and joy. It gives people dignity. If anything goes wrong with any building project, we are coming after you. You won’t build here again.”
Sexwale instructed the chairman of the National Home Builders Registration Council to fire any contractor who built sub-standard homes or who was corrupt.
“We don’t take the poor for granted,” he said. “If houses are built, it should be a quality product and affordable. Consumer protection and satisfaction is of utmost importance.”
The three-bedroom “eco-friendly” duplexes, two of which were constructed with concrete from the Athlone cooling towers, were built in under three months.
Yesterday Sexwale, Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille and Human Settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela handed over the keys to eight beneficiaries, among them the grandmother and guardian of the twins whose mother, Bonelwa Tilikana, died in an accident near Beaufort West in March.
The twins were born after the critically injured Tilikana, 20, was airlifted to the Tygerberg Hospital, where she died a few days later.
Thozama Payi, Tilikana’s mother, and the twins Linamandla and Likhona were present to accept the keys to their new house.
“It’s been very, very difficult, but I’m glad we at least have a house now,” said Payi. “It makes it so much easier.”
Another beneficiary, Bongile Xolelo, lived in a dilapidated hostel in Langa with his 12-year-old disabled son.
“This is the proudest day of my life,” Xolelo said. “My boy, Mesuli, just smiled when I told him we are moving into our own house. He is very happy.”
De Lille said: “These homes must be looked after and appreciated. I don’t want to come here in a year and find that you have sold your house.”
Sexwale warned beneficiaries that he would be making random visits to the area to “check if you are keeping your end of the deal”.
Sexwale was also joined by the Housing Minister of Mali, Yacouba Diallo, who was keen to have similar “eco-friendly” houses built in his country.
During the handover, a group of about 20 disgruntled residents complained that they had been on the waiting list for decades and had still not received houses.
- Cape Argus
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