The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in the North West, has directed the province’s Human Settlements Department, to furnish it with a detailed report regarding abandoned and incomplete RDP houses.
The commission released its investigations on the state of RDP houses in the province, which found that the department violated its oath of office.
“The investigation found that the North West Department of Human Settlements has failed to fulfil its mandate within reasonable timeframes and prescribed quality standards, thereby infringing upon beneficiaries’ constitutional rights to adequate housing and human dignity as per sections 26 (1) and 10 of the Constitution.
Specific violations include delays in issuing title deeds, undermining beneficiaries’ security of tenure, and deficiencies in housing design that comprises privacy and accessibility for persons with disabilities,” said Commissioner Philile Ntuli during a media briefing in Rustenburg.
According to the commission, these shortcomings were attributed to mismanagement, contractual disputes and insufficient oversight by the provincial Treasury and the Premier’s office, which the commission said worsened the situation.
The SAHRC has further demanded a progress report on various priorities including completed houses, conducted repairs and measures taken to address non-compliance of contractors and staff.
The commission committed to apply a robust approach to rectify the current failures and ensure accountability across all spheres.
