North West MEC for Human Settlements, Desbo Mohono has encouraged the newly appointed members of the North West Rental Housing Tribunal to undertake their tasks with dedication, commitment and excellence to collectively ensure that all people have access to housing.
In her first meeting with the tribunal, Mohono said the tribunal is faced with a huge responsibility of protecting and enforcing the rights and obligations of both landlords and tenants in the interest of justice and fairness.
“Protecting both landlords and tenants against unfair practices as well as providing effective mechanism to resolve disputes that may arise from time to time between both parties, is a task of monumental proportions,” says Mohono.
Mohono said her department will capacitate the tribunal to enable it to fulfil its mandate.
“In this regard, we will intensify our communication efforts to ensure that all our people are aware of the existence of the tribunal and the service it renders and further ensure that it delivers on its mandate and is able to account for resources deployed towards discharging its responsibilities,” said Mohono who appreciated the humble contribution made by all members of the tribunal in the past in ensuring that all people have access to housing.
The following members have been appointed by the MEC to serve in the tribunal for the next three years are: Ms ND Siele, Ms T Harris, Mr J Strydom, Mr Hlahane, Mr Nkomo, Mr L Mahlangu and Mr P O’Connor. Their collective experience and expertise revolves around local government, law, project management and property management.
Giving words of encouragement to the newly appointed members, the North West Rental Housing Tribunal Chairperson, John Nkomo said the most important aspect of the tribunal is to uphold the spirit of the section 26 of the South African Constitution.
“Here we are dealing with real life issues about housing and there’s a need for us to master the right to housing and also to justice.”
Nkomo who serves for the second term as the tribunal’s chairperson said the tribunal will work wholeheartedly to assist the department on housing issues to ensure that basic rights to housing are realised.
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