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August 2015
Housing
Continued
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number of security features and this,
he says, will prevent fraud and cor-
ruption. As part of the roadshows,
Mnyani explained, “The new system
is a great improvement and we have
closed the loopholes to ensure that
certificates are above board. That has
been a significant achievement. We
are measuring how long it takes for
the NHBRC to issue certificates and
will continue to improve it. The hard
work by the in-house Inspectorate
has seen the number of inspections
per house almost double. Previously,
the outsourced inspections ranged
from four to eight per home. This has
increased on an average to 15 inspec-
tions per house.
“With our own inspectorate divi-
sion, NHBRC can visit as many times
as possible and there has been a great
improvement on quality. Builders
understand that we are there to as-
sist themand ensure that regulations
are being met. Although the revenue
has increased because of the number
of government, Enhanced People’s
Housing Process, subsidised and
partially subsidised homes being
enrolled, we are spending farmore on
the cost of maintaining the inspector-
ate, including travel costs, which has
had a huge impact on budgets and of
course, the payroll. This means the
systems have tobemore cost efficient
and offer value for money. We have
changed our pay-off line to ‘Assuring
Quality Homes’ and this is whowe are
and what we stand for.”
With almost 385 000 inspections
per annum on government housing
and a further 250 000 on private sec-
tor residential units, the state entity
will have to re-evaluate the inspec-
tionmodel in order tomake sure that
there is value for money and that the
enrolment fee is linked to the inspec-
tions and related costs.
CIDB & NHBRC
The two government statutory bod-
ies - the CIDB for the civil construction
sector and the NHBRC overseeing
home builders in the residential sec-
tor - will continue to work together.
“During the NHBRC road-shows
we always emphasised the need for
home builders to have certificates
from both state entities and this is