Parliament, Monday, 24 October 2022 – The Housing Consumer Protection Bill has the potential to drive the transformation of the construction industry, especially for the benefit of the youth and women. The committee concluded the last of three public hearings in the North West this weekend.
While participants welcomed the Bill’s transformation and skills development objectives, they criticised the government’s poor track record on implementation. This was highlighted as a risk factor that could undermine the effective implementation and positive impacts of the Bill. To mitigate these risks, participants called for the implementation of the Bill to be regularly monitored and assessed.
Participants also raised the lack of capacity at municipal level as a risk factor, because the housing process requires extensive input from municipal officials. Another concern, also mentioned in public hearings in other provinces, was the lack of adequately trained housing inspectors in rural areas. Some of the participants where emphatic that their support hinged on the Bill compelling municipalities to hire new staff members to drive the agenda advanced by the Bill.
There was overwhelming support of the Bill’s intention to improve the quality of house building, as the current quality levels are so poor. Many beneficiaries of RDP houses complained about the quality of houses they receive. They expected the Bill to address issues of quality so that future recipients are not adversely affected by unethical practices.
Participants in the public hearings also mentioned the need for the Bill to regulate against the growing number of migrant foreign nationals working in the construction industry. They said these immigrants are unskilled, unregistered and to blame for the inferior build houses.
The committee is now left with public hearings in the Western Cape and after that the committee will deliberate and then submit a report Parliament. The committee is happy with the quality of inputs it has received, which will strengthen the Bill.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS. MR THLOLOGELO MALATJI
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
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E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
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