MANIINI – Instead of providing warmth and shelter to the needy families, some of the RDP houses are posing a serious threat to the community at Maniini Block K, known as Magozani.

Five-year-old Mashudu Mudau is the latest victim of the unfinished houses, after the wall of the house that was left incomplete for more than six months, fell on her a few weeks ago. As a result, young Mashudu, who lost three teeth during the incident, also sustained a serious cut on her upper and lower lips. Her gums were also injured in the incident.

Mashudu's unemployed mother, Avhapfani Mudau (35), says the wall fell because cheap material was used in the building process. She stated that her daughter is the second victim of such an incident.

She also claimed the contractor forced her to buy cement, window frames and door frames for her house. "I asked him why my house was taking so long to be completed and he said he did not have enough material. He then said I should buy material if I wanted my house to be finished. The last time he came, in March, he used my two bags of cement and mixed it with a lot of sand so that he can cover a big area with less material. I think that is the reason why the house is not strong," said Mudau, whose house is still to be completed.

Avhapfani also alleged that the contractor had forced her to sign the documents, which indicates that he had completed her house. She said she learnt about this after she had signed the papers. Officials from Thulamela promised that they would solve her problem months ago, but she was still waiting.

Meanwhile, Ms Kressie Ravhuhali (48), who is still waiting for her RDP house to be completed by the same contractor, is forced to accommodate herself with her two children Livhuwani (16) and Walter (12) in a one-roomed shack. Ravhuhali said the contractor told her to buy 40 bags of cement to complete the house.

She added that he only provided bricks for her house. "We were also informed the municipality was informed that the contractor had completed 14 houses, which is not true. No inspector came to assess the situation," said Ravhuhali.

Attempts to get comment from the contractor (his name is known to Mirror), was unsuccessful.