LOUIS TRICHARDT - The long awaited Hostel Redevelopment project in Tshikota, which was supposed to be completed in February last year, is still not handed over to those who are desperately waiting for housing.

The completion date of the project, originally set to commence on December 21, 2000, was February 2002. This was however postponed to 11 July 2002.

In a media statement this week, the Democratic Alliance expressed its grave concern regarding the project.

"As housing is regarded as one of the most important priorities of local government, the DA is concerned that the Makhado Municipality and the Provincial Housing Board (PHB) seem reluctant to force the contractor to comply with the most basic building standards. This municipality with the PHB seem unable to provide houses for the poor, even when they have the funds as in this case. The plight of the homeless seems to be of minor importance."

According to a letter by the Director Technical Services of the Makhado Municipality, his office had by the end of October last year as yet not received proof of payment for the building plan approval fee from the developer. Without such approval it is unlawful to proceed with any building construction within the jurisdiction area of a local government. This delinquency has repeatedly been brought to the attention of the local and provincial authorities.

The Makhado Municipal Director Technical Services expressed grave concern in a letter dated 26 October last year, about the developer's non-compliance with not only the basic prerequisites of the Building Regulations, but also his deviation from the standards and prescriptions of the contract.

The letter, a written reply to an enquiry by the DA, indicated concern about the foundations of some of the units and states that a request to open up those foundations for inspection, has not been complied with. In the meantime cracks and patches for remedy on many of the units' floors confirm the concern about the matter. Concrete lintels were also not provided above door and window openings and some walls were simply not built up to the underside of the roof sheets. The letter states that the developer has indicated that the prescribed IBR roof sheets would exceed his cost budget in the project. Council on the other hand wanted the re-developed units to complement the existing hostel and to offer best quality to the beneficiaries.

According to the Municipal Director Technical Services the walls of the units are backwashed instead of smooth sand cement plastering and the workmanship is poor and unsightly. The timber beams used are also not of the specified size and the method of joining not according to the standards set out in the National Building Regulations.

The Director stated that the doors that have been fitted are of very inferior quality. They shrink badly after slight rain and the boards between the framing dislocated from the V-joints, resulting in see-through gaps.

"Many of the doors are broken and have fallen apart. Some have become smaller than the steel doorframes as a result of shrinkage. They now stay open though locked."

The Director indicated in his letter that according to plans, all rooms feature electrical installations, which, on inspection, were not provided for in the buildings.

"As re-inspected on 23 October 2002 it is obvious that our hostel is depreciating in value even before construction is completed," the Director stated.

In it's media statement this week, the DA issued a warning to the Provincial Housing Board and to the Makhado Municipality that they will be held personally accountable if any resident, when they finally move into the redeveloped hostel units, sustain any injury due to bad workmanship.

"It seems strange that the Provincial Housing Board and the municipality took no action against the contractor for this sloppy development and the DA wonders why?

"The DA wishes to inform taxpayers and those who have been waiting for years for their houses, that we will continue to fight for justice and for the exposure of seemingly incompetent contractors."

"The DA will hold the MEC for Local Government and Housing and the Municipal Manager accountable for any structural or other damage to these substandard houses," the statement read.