Daily News: KZN housing development threatened

http://www.dailynews.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20081113053525990C273750

KZN housing development threatened
13 November 2008, 08:22

By Nompumelelo Magwaza & Mangi Baliti

Residents of a Newlands West, Durban, settlement threatened to stop construction of the Khulula housing project in the area if they were not employed by the construction company on site.

The unemployed Siyanda residents blockaded the offices of Namandla Road and Civil on Wednesday, demanding to benefit from the development.

Mzo Dlamini, the project’s community liaison officer, said most people in the area were unemployed and available to work for Namandla.

“Many people have applied for jobs, but they were told that the company needs people with experience,” he said.

Dlamini said most workers on site were not from the area.

He said another concern was the quality of the houses being built – some were allegedly already cracking before construction was completed.

Quality

“The houses are not of good quality, the windows are not properly fitted. Some are completed and vacant, while there are people still living in shacks in the area,” he said.

A co-owner of Namandla, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the company was not in a position to hire people because the year-end was imminent and it could not fire existing staff.

“We will organise an employment procedure in 2009.”

The man said the company had had six employees from the community since the start of the project.

Charmaine Kok, of the eThekwini housing department, which commissioned the project, said the municipality’s policy was that contractors should get the bulk of their labour from local communities.