Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale has called on civil society and business to “join hands with government” in the fight against corruption in the housing delivery sector. “Corruption is the curse of our society and must be stamped out without any equivocation no matter at what level of society it takes place and irrespective of whether it is within government, the private sector, NGOs and so on,” he told the Human Settlements social contract plenary session in Ekurhuleni today.
“We take a very serious view not just to mouth slogans about corruption and zero tolerance, but to take appropriate and effective steps to stamp it out, with dire consequences for those who are caught in the act.”
Speaking to more than 250 representatives from the financial sector, construction companies and builders, as well as civil society organisations and members of all three spheres of government, he said, “We want to use the opportunity of this platform to make a special call to you, our stakeholders, for cooperation with this special audit.”
Explaining the extent of the impact of corruption, Minister Sexwale said, “As we speak, a total of 40 000 houses countrywide must be rectified or completely demolished as a consequence of bad workmanship. “Sadly, two such houses have killed a woman and a 13 year-old child. Clearly, somebody must account.
The two people in question are a 13 year old boy, Sonwabile Dwili, who reportedly died when his mother’s home in Burgersdorp in the Eastern Cape collapsed in July this year. Two friends were hospitalised and an unnamed woman who reportedly died last year when her house collapsed in Amaotana, north of Durban. The woman was pregnant at the time.
“This situation clearly follows from questionable contracts and building standards, approved by government officials and implemented by the private sector,” Sexwale said.
As they say, it takes two to corrupt. Sexwale also stated that the special investigations unit has already brought to book more than 800 government officials who had houses and subsidies they should not have had.
“More arrests are to follow,” he said.
“As for the private sector: five members of the legal fraternity lawyers have already been struck from the roll for corrupt activities associated with housing. And we are hot on the heels of identified companies involved in nefarious activities. “We simply cannot allow people to turn the poor into a business,” he said. This is morally reprehensible.
The social contract plenary session ends tomorrow. Participants include representatives of the major banks including: First National Bank, Nedbank, Absa and Standard Bank as well as representatives from the major construction companies, such as Group 5, Grinaker LTA, joined by South African Women in Construction and approximately 15 smaller construction companies. Government representatives have come from national, provincial and local government. Several parastatals including the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Independent Development Trust are also taking part.
Enquiries:
Chris Vick
Tokyo Sexwale
Cell: 083 556 7644
Issued by: Department of Human Settlements
27 November 2009
Source: Department of Human Settlements (http://www.housing.gov.za/default.htm)
