It consisted of two rooms, a tiny passage, and a bathroom, which contained an open shower, washbasin and toilet. There was even - at the few that were handed over - an attempt to plant grass and some isolated trees. The sad thing that differentiates these houses from homes is that the KwaZulu-Natal housing department, the local municipality and the National Home Builders Registration Council all failed to notice that not a single house in this project had a water tap or sink in the kitchen. The residents would have to use the tap in the washbasin for all other needs. This omission, I believe, is a violation of the minimum norms and standards agreed to.
When this was pointed out to officials they were quick to indicate that it would be rectified later. However, hon Minister, at what cost? It would probably cost twice or even three times what it would have cost to install it in the first place. Do we honestly have the time or the resources to keep on coming back to repair or rectify houses that have already been built? Surely, it must be at the expense of additional new homes that could have been constructed.
Perhaps, hon Minister, your senior managers should be treated like apprentices. They sit there - I have counted roughly 10 of them - and when they do mess up like this, I would like to suggest that somebody should be fired. I thank you. [Applause.]