THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 11 2012 01:27 | LAST UPDATED Feb 11 2012 01:27
News | National | Land & Housing

Sexwale takes aim at corruption in housing sector

 PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - Nov 02 2009 14:24


Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale is "sharpening his pencil" to root out corrupt contractors and officials who build shoddy houses for the poor.

A national housing audit headed by the Special Investigations Unit had been instituted to find the culprits who had caused "chronic" and "massive" problems in housing, he told journalists in Pretoria.

"The audit deals with issues where the law had been broken."

Sexwale said recent visits to all provinces, where he heard the concerns of those on the receiving end of low-cost housing, and of those on waiting lists, had highlighted the need for an audit.

In the Northern and Eastern Cape alone, 3 000 houses would have to be destroyed as a result of "shoddy" and corrupt workmanship.

"In response to the situation we face, we have decided that we need to take a rigorous look at housing delivery, from top to bottom.

"We need to focus on issues we know are specific impediments: fraud, delays, corruption, absentee contractors, ghost houses, shoddy workmanship again and corruption around waiting lists."

Sexwale said those found guilty would face civil or criminal action. For those found within the government ranks, suspension with pay was not an option, he said. -- Sapa

CONTINUES BELOW
TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

Tags

People

comment guidelines
  1. Please review our comment guidelines
  2. Post your comment in the block below and press "Post as ..."
  3. Please allow between 15 minutes and 48 hours for your comment to go live
  4. Racist, sexist or stupid comments will be terminated with extreme prejudice
blog comments powered by Disqus



LATEST ARTICLES IN THIS SECTION



Client Media Releases

@mailandguardian - Top stories & newsflashes
@NicDawes - M&G editor Nic Dawes
@ChrisRoperZA - Editor, M&G Online
@amabhungane - M&G Centre for Investigative Journ
@mgfeed - Our whole news feed


Advertisements