Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, all protocols observed, on Tuesday, 17 September 2007, the Cape Times reported that studies have found that only 10% of the families in the Western Cape live in shacks. The 10% represents 286 000 families. In future these families are going to be accommodated in houses. Hence, these occupants need to be protected. This is not only the Western Cape.
The new Housing Consumers Protection Measures Amendment Bill is a welcome gesture in relation to the complaints from the disgruntled Hanover Park residents. The complainants point to defective government-built houses. It also seems as if the MEC for Housing in the Western Cape, Mr Dyantyi, already is in line with the amendment. According to the paper, he made available R45 million to fix the defective houses. The amendment measures make provision for that.
My questions are: What about the defective houses that are built in Victoria West in the Northern Cape Province, where people received only R200 to fix defects? Will these amendments speak to incidents such as those as well? These defects were noticeable even before the occupants could move into the houses. When builders disappear after building defective houses, are the councils going to take financial responsibility? This seems to be the trend now. If the amount of money becomes a disputed factor in an appeal where the defect was reported, is the Minister's judgement going to be accepted? If not, what can the poor person do who does not have the means to go to court?
The report states that there are 2 400 houses being built over a period of seven years in Hanover Park and that the plans were approved only afterwards, hence the welcoming of the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Amendment Bill. The ID trusts that this Bill will give a better deal to occupants by the home builder in relation to consumer protection measures. I thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]