BuaNews (Tshwane)
Sizwe Samayende
30 January 2006
Nelspruit — Four housing contractors face criminal and civil charges for allegedly defrauding Mpumalanga's local government and housing department of more than R400 000.
The contractors are accused of claiming money for shoddy work or invoicing for RDP houses that they did not build.
"In some instances, the money claimed was more than the work that had actually been done," said department MEC Jabu Mahlangu.
The corruption forced Mr Mahlangu to freeze any new construction jobs for RDP houses in the 2005/2006 financial year.
He instructed his own official to ensure that the existing projects were properly completed to safely house an estimated 50 000 people.
So far, 10 604 of the 17 000 houses have been completed.
The MEC stressed that the collusion between crooked contractors and his own officials had come to an end.
He said he had already fired two inspectors from his department and suspended another three for their part in the scam.
More contractors are also expected to be charged as investigations continue, he said.
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