The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements has introduced a new set of performance standards for contractors in a bid to manage under-performance in the industry.
Jacob Mamabolo, Gauteng Human Settlements MEC, said that the growing demand in Gauteng for housing and the need to respond to the demand through Mega Human Settlements Projects will require a drastic improvement in performance by all housing contractors. Speaking during a meeting with all housing employed contractors recently Mamabolo said he was concerned that the department has been on a downward trend in delivering houses in the past five years.Seeking an upward trend
He said money spent on building houses increased over the years, while the number of housing opportunities delivered declined. “We must change the tide. My plea is that we cannot continue like this. By the end of financial year we must see an upward trend in the numbers and we must close the gap between expenditure and output,” MEC Mamabolo said. The MEC said that performance will now be monitored through a revised Service Level Agreements (SLA), which all contractors in the province are expected to sign.“The SLA’s will commit contractors to deliver on targets set and agreed by all parties. The SLA’s will not interfere with existing contracts. However, punitive steps will be taken against non-performing contractors, which will include termination of contracts,” he explained.
Some of the urgent administrative interventions to assist in fast-tracking housing delivery include bringing on board the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) to assist with inspections and approvals processes.
