R167m housing project gathers more dust

THE R167 million Hull Street Social Housing project in Kimberley has hit another snag, with the site once again abandoned and work grinding to a halt due to insufficient funding.

- SANDI KWON HOO

The keys for the first 100 houses were scheduled to be handed over in August this year, while all 372 units were supposed to have been completed by October. However, this was not possible due to escalating costs and additional geotechnical remedial work that is required.

Construction was previously placed on hold for eight months in 2024 due to administrative problems.

In June, the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Bentley Vass, indicated that the drainage problems - where the soil became flooded during heavy rainfall - had been resolved.

INDEFINITE COMPLETION DATE

Coghsta head of communications, Babalwa Mzambo, explained that a realistic revised completion date could only be determined once additional funding had been secured.

"A scope of remedial geotechnical works must also first be priced and scheduled. A new or existing contractor will have to provide a revised programme, and a new cashflow must be confirmed."