North West to demolish 40 unfinished houses after decade-long housing project stalls
· Citizen
The North West department of human settlements is demolishing 40 incomplete houses after a housing project in Tshunyane village, outside Mahikeng, stalled for more than a decade – and starting the project afresh.
The failed project dates to 2010, when two contractors were appointed to build houses in Mahikeng local municipality.
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According to spokesperson, Dineo Thapelo, on 8 September 2010, the department of housing entered into agreements with two contractors – Glowing Sunset Trading 38 and Marang Distributors – to build about 250 houses, in villages in the area.
She said one of the villages was Tshunyane, where the contractors were allocated 34 and six housing units, respectively.
Project has remained incomplete since 2015
Glowing Sunset Trading 38 stopped working in March 2015, while Marang Distributors abandoned its site in June 2015, according to the housing department.
“Glowing Sunset Trading 38 was paid R8.4 million for the milestones completed in all the villages including Tshunyane, while Marang Distributors was paid R3.6 million which included work done in Tshunyane village.
“The department only paid for the milestones completed,” Thapelo revealed.
The department’s latest assessment has found that the unfinished structures cannot simply be completed.
The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), acting on the department’s instructions, conducted structural integrity assessments of incomplete houses and blocked the housing projects, including Tshunyane.
The assessments found structural defects and deterioration caused by the prolonged exposure of construction materials to adverse weather conditions.
The NHBRC recommended that all exposed foundations and wall plates be demolished.
The department subsequently appointed a new contractor in January 2026 to demolish and rebuild the 40 housing units.
Thapelo said demolition has already begun and the new contractor has started laying foundations for the replacement houses.
Asked whether the companies had faced penalties, damages claims, recovery proceedings or blacklisting, she said that the department was seeking legal advice.
The department said contractors were terminated when they failed to perform or deliver work to the required standard, while some voluntarily surrendered projects when they were unable to complete them.
Thapelo said the department has introduced measures aimed at preventing another stalled project, these include involving the community, traditional leaders and the Mahikeng municipality in the project.