Masinenge housing project delays

ALTHOUGH the winter season is approaching and the cold slowly creeps in, Masinenge community members remain hopeful that they will all, one day, be able to move into their new homes.

For many of them living in shacks, owning a decent home or just having a proper roof over their heads remains a ‘dream’.

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Despite unexpected delays in the multi-million rand housing project, not all is doom and gloom as 26 families in phase one of the project were recently given keys to their new homes.

An additional 103 newly completed units await the provision of Eskom’s power supply, while the rest await completion.

Ray Nkonyeni Municipality spokesman Simon April said a contractor has been appointed by Eskom to start work in July.

A pier bridge and culvert crossing used between phase one and two have already been completed, together with two internal pump stations and the installation of internal water and sewerage reticulation.

“Phase two and three units are at different stages of construction, roads and storm water drains have been partially constructed, while internal sewerage reticulation has been installed and is ready to be commissioned, subject to pump stations.”

Project Delays

Mr April says the following factors have delayed the project:

* Design reviews had to be made due to site topography and geology challenges;

* Tedious legislated procurement processes;

* Changes in labour contractors;

* Ugu’s failure to complete and commission the main sewer line and pump station;

* Increasing influx of illegal occupation;

* Illegal electricity connection and cable theft.

“Despite setbacks, workers are on site focusing on the tedious completion stages such as plumbing, electrical connections, plastering, glazing and other final touches.”

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