The North West government has demolished 28 of 71 shoddily built houses in Huhudi township near Vryburg.

This exercise follows the failure by a contractor to meet the required building standard of low cost houses, especially the quality of the mortar used in all the houses.

Other defects include beam filling cracks, damaged locks, cracks on door frames and loose PVC pipes.

Both the Department of Local Government and Human Settlements and National Home Builders’ Registration Council (NHBRC) had on numerous occasions attempted to bring to the attention of the contractor the defects. Instead, the contractor chose to proceed with the project.

The NHBRC subsequently issued a certificate of non-compliance in an attempt to get the contract to stop the building and has since ordered the contractor to provide laboratory tests to show the quality of the houses.

North West MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements Collen Maine said: “We have taken this harsh decision to send a strong message to other contractors and wannabe contractors that the department will not tolerate any sub-standard work.

“Our good track record that we have worked for over the years will not be tarnished by these shoddy contractors.”

One of the demolished houses belongs to Onica Mogoiwa and her family of four, who have been waiting for the house for over a year.

Mogoiwa said her family will be patient as the department is determined to deliver quality work.

The R13-million housing project is intended to build 200 houses in Huhudi township.

Currently only 43 houses are in good condition. The new contractor will be appointed in due course and is expected to start with the construction of the houses in two weeks.