Deputy Minister for Human Settlements Zoe Kota-Hendricks has called upon the Bokone Bophirima Department of Local Government and Human Settlements led by MEC Collen Maine to withdraw and cancel tender contracts of fronting contractors. Deputy Minister Kota-Hendricks was addressing the Provincial Govan Mbeki Awards event held at Manthe village in Taung which was attended amongst others by councillors, mayors, municipal managers and housing contractors.
The Govan Mbeki awards are intended to promote and re-enforce a culture of excellence within the housing sector in the delivery of integrated human settlements and to encourage all stakeholders in the sector to respond systematically and foster a culture of producing quality housing.
Deputy Minister Kota-Hendricks said “We will revoke tenders of those that are acting as fronters during tender processes. You can’t be given a tender contract and then you hire people to do your work. We need hardworking contractors and if you are not a hard worker you are at the wrong place. Housing is for those who work hard to earn their money”.
Deputy Minister Kota-Hendricks believes young people should also be prioritised when awarding housing tenders. “Young people must be given an opportunity to build houses. 60 percent of the tenders must be given to young people. Beneficiaries who are also young people must be afforded an opportunity to build their own houses so that they can be empowered”, said Deputy Minister Kota-Hendricks.
Bokone Bophirima Premier Supra Mahumapelo who also addressed the gathering said the production of many entrepreneurs will change the situation in many poverty stricken rural villages in the province. “If you want to see poverty all that you need to do is visit a neighbouring rural village. We need to produce as many entrepreneurs as possible especially in rural villages such as Manthe so that we create a lot of jobs and improve the local economy. During the construction projects, skills must be transferred to young people so that they can make a living from such skills”, said Premier Mahumapelo
Meanwhile MEC Maine said he will not tolerate shoddy work by contractors and he will not hesitate to once again demolish poorly built houses.
Contractors in nine competing categories were given awards and certificates by MEC Collen Maine. The winners of different categories are as follows:
- Best Rural Project: Zola Magwaca of White Leopard
- Best informal Settlement upgraded Programme: Cecil Harris – CH Enterprise
- Best Woman Contractor: Rachel Molamu – Mercycon Construction and Projects
- Best Youth Contractor: Thokazane Littler – Madimong Trading & Services
- Best Integraded Residential programme: Ashraf Soomar – Sunset Bay Trading
- Best Enhanced People’s Housing Process: Stanley Nyanyirai – Utshani Fund NPC
- Best Projects in non-subsidy market: Gerrie Brits – Den Akker Projects
- Best Student Awarded Bursary: Tsholofelo Mosalaesi
The above overall winners of each category will proceed to participate in the national Govan Mbeki Awards to be held in Cape Town in two months time.
For enquiries:
Ben Bole
Tel: 018 388 4824
Cell: 071 566 1399
E-mail: MSBole@nwpg.gov.za
