The North West Department of Human Settlements signed a memorandum of
understanding with six Alternative Building Technology (ABT) companies on investments and delivery of 95 thousand of housing units of various typologies over the next five years. The MOU was signed during the Department's two-day summit held over the weekend in Sun City outside Rustenburg, where several companies in the ABT industry and other role players within the human settlements sector showed interest in the building technology.
One of the six companies has already donated seven units to needy families in the
province. The summit sought to unravel all challenges within the Human Settlements industry across all spheres. MEC Maloyi reiterated that the Department has a serious
challenge of blocked projects in the four North West Province districts, which has been going on for a long time.
He said that the Alternative Building Technology would assist in addressing the housing backlog and finishing the incomplete houses. He further indicated that the houses
would be built with the same material. "We are happy to announce that this partnership will enable us to achieve our goal to ensure that the people of North West have proper and well build houses. The technology does not have any room for defects. It will also boost an opportunity for capacity building for our contractors, which will be realised, and a potential for investments is envisaged. We want to see other countries coming to benchmark in our province," said Maloyi.
Meanwhile, a few developers pledged to complete and build houses for the disadvantaged who have been waiting for a long time for their houses. Among others is a company called Tsogo, which pledged to complete all blocked projects that women built to empower women.
Otukile Kgabi of Maseru Construction pledged to build houses for a destitute family of 21 in Ratlou Local Municipality, and MTN promised to give them data for the whole year. MEC Maloyi remained optimistic and confident that the Department is now on the right
track and challenges will be overcome.
