The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) visited townships in Brits this week to inspect RDP homes after complaints of inadequate and unfinished houses.
SAHRC North West provincial manager Shirley Mlombo said the commission had received a large number of complaints. The Commission visited sites in Letlhabile, Segwaelane and Jericho in the Madibeng municipal district.
“Over the years, the Commission in the North West has received many complaints about unfinished and inadequate RDP houses in the North West. The complaints of unfinished houses include those that were not built beyond the foundation stage, those whose walls were built up to the halfway point, and those that were built to almost completion but are left without the roof. These houses make it impossible for the owners thereof to take occupation. As a result, these houses are vandalized. The complaints of inadequate houses relate to buildings that are inaccessible to persons with disabilities. They also relate to the use of inferior building materials and poor workmanship, and, as a result, this poses safety threats/risks to the livelihoods of the occupiers.”
To investigate these challenges at a systemic level, the Commission will conduct site inspections at the affected communities from 5 to 9 May 2023 and thereafter have a provincial inquiry on the inadequate and unfinished RDP houses in the North West from 10 to 12 May 2023.
The objectives of the inquiry are to, amongst others, examine the root causes of the challenge of unfinished and inadequate RDP houses in the North West and the impact on beneficiaries. The inquiry will make findings, recommendations and directives to address housing challenges in the North West.