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November 2015
News
A
s part of the Council Member’s
oversight mandate, the pur-
pose of the inspection by these
senior officials was to highlight the
importance of regulation in the hous-
ing industry.
NHBRC’s Provincial Manager for
KZN, Gary Olckers said that repairing
poorly constructed houses had in the
past years cost South Africans billions
of rands.
“With a multi-billion rand project
such as Cornubia, ensuring quality
becomes vitally important.”
Olckers said that each of the thou-
sands of units have to be assessed
at various stages of construction to
ensure that problems are identified
early and rectified as soon as pos-
sible.
“Instead of trying to correct pos-
sible issues after the house has been
built, compliance is tested through-
out the duration of the project,” he
said.
NHBRC member of Council, Hla-
leni Dlepu expressed however, that
the NHBRC’s role goes beyond this,
“A home or a housing development
that is registered with the NHBRC
automatically falls under a warranty
against construction-relateddefects.”
She added that many home-
owners are unaware that building
contractors are required by law to
register all building projects with the
NHBRC.
“Members of the South African
public have a right to demand that
their builder or contractor is reg-
istered with the NHBRC, and that
council members are conducting
unannounced site visits in KZN and
the Western Cape,” she continued.
Olckers acknowledges that since
the NHBRC obtained responsibility
as a regulator, there had been sig-
nificant improvements in housing
quality standards, “lack of proper
skills is one of the major reasons that
a contractors’ work may not be up to
standard.” He continued that other
reasons may be the use of inferior
materials and through the NHBRC’s
interventions, builders get to know
the implication of using materials
that are not of the right standard”.
“Regulation plays a vital role, as it
ensures contractors and home own-
ers recognise that they too have a
part to play. As a regulator we work
closely with contractors and build-
ers to ensure compliance in building
standards,” concluded Olckers.
Member of Council, Phetola Mak-
gathe, said that the councillors were
satisfied that work on the sites was
progressing smoothly and in keeping
with the required standards.
“Our inspectors are here on a regu-
lar basis and working in conjunction
with the eThekwini Municipality to
ensure compliance at every stage of
the building,” he said.
Other members of the council who
participated in the unannounced site
visits included Goolam Mameck and
Ambassador Sam Kotwana.
The National Home Builders Reg-
istration Council (NHBRC) is a statu-
tory body with the responsibility to
provide protection in terms of the
Housing Consumers Protection Mea-
sures Act. It is mandated to provide
protection for housing consumers
and to regulate the home building
industry.
For more information visit
www.nhbrc.org.za■
NHBRC Council on site visits
Chairperson of Council
Abbey Chikane
Deputy Chairperson of Council
Julieka Bayat
Chairperson of the Social
Transformation Committee
Xoliswa Eunice Daku
Chairperson of the Registrations
Committee
Themba Thomas Cyril Dlamini
Chairperson of the Bid Adjudication
Committee
Hlaleleni Kathleen Dlepu
Chairperson of the Social & Ethics
Committee
Ambassador Segogwane Samuel Kotane
Member of HCREMCO & Fund Advisory
and Finance Committees
Phetola Nailana Solomon Makgathe
Member of HCREMCO & Bid
Adjudication Committees
Mankwana Christinah Mohale
Chairperson of Technical Research &
Advisory Committee
Busisiwe Nwabisa Nzo
Chairperson of Human Capital and
Remuneration Committee
Alvin Phumudzo Rapea
Chairperson of Fund Advisory and
Finance Committee
Goolam Hoosen Manack
Department of Public Works
representative
Obed Lucas Molotsi
Department of Trade and Industry
representative
Lulama Andisa Potwana
Member of Bid Adjudication &
Industry Advisory Committees
Mziwonke Jacobs
Council Members
Newly appointed Council
Members of the National
Home Builders Registration
Council (NHBRC) recently
assessed building standards
at two of Durban’s largest
building projects – Cornubia
and Clermont.
Hlaleleni Dlepu