By Anel PowellThe bill to repair more than 2 400 crumbling houses built by the Cape Town Community Housing Company (CTCHC) between 1994 and 2000 has almost tripled from the initial R35-million to more than R90-million.The completion of repairs to houses with damp walls, inadequate foundations and poor plumbing is being delayed by resistance from the communities and the discovery of fresh structural problems. The remedial project is two months behind schedule.Many residents have also refused to pay their monthly instalments, with some boycotting rent payments because of the poor quality of the houses.Fungai Mudimu, a senior member of the housing company, told the city's housing portfolio committee on Monday that the provincial department of housing had agreed to pay the extra costs of repairing houses in Manenberg, Philippi, Mitchells Plain and Gugulethu.
Meanwhile, "legal processes" were under way to determine why the 10 low-cost housing projects were so shoddily built."The contractors took short cuts. There was no proper supervision," Mudimu said."That is why we are ensuring we have no problems (again)." After complaints from irate residents, the housing company asked the National Home Builders' Registration Council to appoint an independent consultant to audit the houses.The audit found houses with severe cracks, poor brick-laying, loose roof tiles, soil erosion, gaps between walls and door frames and rusting window frames.Mudimu said R35-million had been allocated for an urgent remedial programme, but further problems had been discovered when work began.In Luyoloville, Gugulethu, an audit of the 246 units found plaster was cracking in most of the homes. In Newfields, the 412 units had not been plastered.Repairs in Eastridge have been delayed by six or seven months because of resistance from the community. In Phillipi, residents complained that the houses did not have proper foundations. Work was delayed by almost four months.The replacement of rusted window frames added R19m to the initial repair bill. Most of the houses need gutters, which will cost R2,3-million.A further R13,8-million will be needed for mandatory plastering and roof insulation needed to reduce the effects of coastal condensation.It will also cost just more than R1-million to improve the storm water management. Mudimu said the consultant fees cost in excess of R10-million.Councillor Claude Ipser (DA) said it was "tragic" that R38 000 was being spent on each house for remedial work.Mudimu said the remedial programme meant that each house had been checked. The new contractors were registered with the National Home Builders' Registration Council and were being monitored. The CTCHC was meeting community leaders about payment plans, Mudimu said.
moladi builds new 40 square meter houses for the same amount it cost to repair these 2400 units