The enquiries also included findings from the Auditor general of South Africa's finding dating back to 2016 until recent. Leading the Human Settlements team during the hearings, MEC Maloyi acknowledged challenges by the department and assured the commission that the department is striving for success and wants to build homes for deserving beneficiaries in the province. Maloyi further informed the commission that the department stopped trench payments to the municipalities and that contractors are paid according to milestones. MEC confidently informed the commission that non performing contractors will not only be terminated but they will be blacklisted and the gesture will assist the department in ensuring that right contractors are appointed and projects are completed. "The department is on course that work will be done and the people of North West will get houses as promised. We have a timeline of all the things we have committed for this financial year, and we are going to make sure that 100% of human settlement grant is spent. Since my appointment and the appointment of Ms Kgomotso Mahlobo, we ensured that systems are in place and that we comply with regulations. We have improved on monitoring and correcting things that were not done correctly," concluded Maloyi. st Department of Cooperative Governance, Human some of its challenges before the South African Human According to the commission's provincial managei of SAHRC, Shirley Mlombo, the unfinished houses included those that are on foundation level, houses that were left half way on wall plates, and those left without roofing. Mlombo said that incomplete houses are a serious inconvenience to beneficiaries as some had to move then houses to allow contractors to build. "The department must double its efforts in ensuring that all its projects are done on time and that beneficiaries. are informed of every development. Municipalities must also form part of the planning and execution of housing delivery. Your planning must ensure that beneficiary's rights are not trampled on," said Mlombo. Both Mlombo and Commissioner Philile Ntuli complemented the department for answering to the commission's enquiries and further going beyond, They both healed the department saying this was great opportunity for the commission and the department as they are both organs of state, to ensure that the rights ol the people of the North West are recognised and respected. Answering to some of the questions the Head of Department of Human Settlements, Kgomotso Mahlobo reiterated that contractors are expected to complete projects within the specified period and failure to comply with those terms. the department will be left with no option but to terminate the contract and appoint a new once to complete the work, "The department has also decided to downscale the work for the contractors who do not have the capacity to complete the projects as well as terminating nonperforming contractors the across the province," said Mahlobo.

Source: Mahikeng Mail