The North West Department of Human Settlements signed a memorandum of understanding with six Alternative Building Technology (ABT)companies on investment and delivery of 95 thousand housing units of various typologies over the next 5 years.
The MOU was signed during the department’s two day summit held over the weekend in Sun City outside Rustenburg, where number of 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 7 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 districts of the North West Province and this has been going on for a long time.
He said that the Alternative Building Technology will assist in addressing the housing backlog and finish the incomplete houses. He further indicated that the houses are going to be built with the same quantum.
“We are happy to announce that this partnership will enable us to achieve our goal which is 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 to our contractors which will be realised and also a potential for investments is envisaged. We want to see other countries coming to benchmark in our province,” said Maloyi.
Meanwhile, few developers made a pledge to complete and build houses for the disadvantaged who have been waiting for a long time for their houses. Among others a company called Tsogo, pledged to complete all blocked projects that were built by women in order to empower women.
OtukileKgabi of Maseru Construction, pledged to build houses for a destitute family of 21 in Ratlou Local Municipality and MTN pledged to give them data for the whole year.
MEC Maloyi remained optimistic and confident that the department is now in the right direction and hope that current departmental challenges will be overcome. He called on developers to work closely with the department and promised them that the department will support them.
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