Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Lucas Xaba and Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Estie Senekal. See attached pictures here, here, and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Dihlabeng Local Municipality will write to the Provincial Department of Human Settlements following an overnight oversight inspection conducted in Extensions 5 and 7, where serious defects and poor workmanship were discovered in recently completed housing projects.
The DA will also request a full quality assessment of the affected houses and accountability from both contractors and municipal officials involved in the project. During the oversight inspection of houses handed over to beneficiaries, the DA in Dihlabeng identified several serious defects, including doors already falling apart, deteriorating ceilings, and leaking water connections, with many pipes found to be loose and poorly installed.
Overnight, we spoke with a contractor and an inspector conducting quality assurance on houses in Ext. 7. They noted that the issues raised above were not their responsibility; they are required by the municipality to appoint subcontractors.
They indicated that the main contractors are responsible for fixing any default that occurs during the term, and history has proven that it won’t happen when the contractor is already off-site.
This is very surprising and worrisome, considering that the MEC human settlements handed over the houses to beneficiaries, suggesting that proper inspections were not conducted.
Residents deserve quality houses for sustainability. Only with leadership and stable governance can a municipality deliver services efficiently and effectively.
Only a vote for the DA on 4 November 2026 will lead to change and a working local government.