Housing backlogs and payment delays spark alarm

THE Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements has slammed the Human Settlements department in the North West over ongoing delays in paying contractors, warning the crisis was crippling service delivery and threatening the survival of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

- KAMOGELO MOICHELA

Some of these delays exceed 100 days, the committee said.

During a recent oversight visit to Moretele Local Municipality, the committee found that persistent nonpayment of service providers was directly contributing to stalled housing projects, deepening the province's human settlements challenges and putting livelihoods at risk.

“Small businesses are critical pillars of economic recovery and job creation, and paralysing their cash flow is simply unacceptable,” said committee chairperson Nocks Seabi.