Housing in Southern Africa November 2015

News

NHBRC Council on site visits

A s part of the Council Member’s oversight mandate, the pur- pose of the inspection by these senior officials was to highlight the importance of regulation in the hous- ing industry. NHBRC’s Provincial Manager for KZN, Gary Olckers said that repairing poorly constructed houses had in the past years cost South Africans billions of rands. “With a multi-billion rand project such as Cornubia, ensuring quality becomes vitally important.” Olckers said that each of the thou- sands of units have to be assessed at various stages of construction to ensure that problems are identified early and rectified as soon as pos- sible. “Instead of trying to correct pos- sible issues after the house has been built, compliance is tested through- out the duration of the project,” he said. NHBRC member of Council, Hla- leni Dlepu expressed however, that the NHBRC’s role goes beyond this, “A home or a housing development that is registered with the NHBRC automatically falls under a warranty against construction-relateddefects.” She added that many home- owners are unaware that building contractors are required by law to register all building projects with the NHBRC. “Members of the South African public have a right to demand that their builder or contractor is reg- istered with the NHBRC, and that council members are conducting unannounced site visits in KZN and the Western Cape,” she continued. Olckers acknowledges that since the NHBRC obtained responsibility as a regulator, there had been sig- nificant improvements in housing quality standards, “lack of proper skills is one of the major reasons that Newly appointed Council Members of the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) recently assessed building standards at two of Durban’s largest building projects – Cornubia and Clermont.

Hlaleleni Dlepu

Council Members

Chairperson of Council Abbey Chikane Deputy Chairperson of Council Julieka Bayat Chairperson of the Social Transformation Committee Xoliswa Eunice Daku Chairperson of the Registrations Committee Themba Thomas Cyril Dlamini Chairperson of the Bid Adjudication Committee Hlaleleni Kathleen Dlepu Chairperson of the Social & Ethics Committee Ambassador Segogwane Samuel Kotane Member of HCREMCO & Fund Advisory and Finance Committees Phetola Nailana Solomon Makgathe Member of HCREMCO & Bid Adjudication Committees Mankwana Christinah Mohale Chairperson of Technical Research & Advisory Committee Busisiwe Nwabisa Nzo Chairperson of Human Capital and Remuneration Committee Alvin Phumudzo Rapea Chairperson of Fund Advisory and Finance Committee Goolam Hoosen Manack Department of Public Works representative Obed Lucas Molotsi Department of Trade and Industry representative Lulama Andisa Potwana

a contractors’ work may not be up to standard.” He continued that other reasons may be the use of inferior materials and through the NHBRC’s interventions, builders get to know the implication of using materials that are not of the right standard”. “Regulation plays a vital role, as it ensures contractors and home own- ers recognise that they too have a part to play. As a regulator we work closely with contractors and build- ers to ensure compliance in building standards,” concluded Olckers. Member of Council, Phetola Mak- gathe, said that the councillors were satisfied that work on the sites was progressing smoothly and in keeping with the required standards. “Our inspectors are here on a regu- lar basis and working in conjunction with the eThekwini Municipality to ensure compliance at every stage of the building,” he said. Other members of the council who participated in the unannounced site visits included Goolam Mameck and Ambassador Sam Kotwana. The National Home Builders Reg- istration Council (NHBRC) is a statu- tory body with the responsibility to provide protection in terms of the Housing Consumers Protection Mea- sures Act. It is mandated to provide protection for housing consumers and to regulate the home building industry. For more information visit www.nhbrc.org.za ■

Member of Bid Adjudication & Industry Advisory Committees Mziwonke Jacobs

November 2015