The Department of Housing and Local Government in the North West has embarked on a programme to complete housing projects that were abandoned as far back as 1995.

There are about 70 such projects in the province.

Spokesperson Mandla Mathebula said at least 20 of these projects had already been cleared, after new contractors were appointed to finish the work.

He said factors that led to the projects being stalled had been resolved.

According to Mr Mathebula, some of the projects were deserted due to delays in completing environmental impact assessments, obtaining tribal land from the department of land affairs and geo-technical reports.

He said the department's intention was to clear all these projects so that the work of providing houses to people could continue.

Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Premier Edna Molewa are expected to launch the programme in Taung on Saturday.

Mr Mathebula said the department had decided to launch the programme in Taung as the area had several projects that had been reinitiated and were ready to be handed over to the beneficiaries.

He said the success registered by the department in housing delivery last year had restored hope that it could fulfill this mandate.

The department managed to spend 99.6 percent of its budget for housing to build almost 15 000 homes, "becoming the best performing department in housing delivery in the country".

"Now that we have managed to put the delivery machinery back on track, we want to ensure that we address all the past mistakes.

"The issue of incomplete projects is one of those challenges that we feel must be addressed as a matter of urgency," he said.

Source: BuaNews / 25 July 2006

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