The statement by Thubelisha, the current project manager and implementing agent on the N2 Gateway Project, on e.tv news that they were adequately carrying out maintenance at the N2 Gateway housing units is laughable and devoid of any truth.

E.tv reported that Thubelisha Homes acting CEO John Duarte insisted that "all repairs had been done" and said the company had "not received any defect reports in the last six months."

However, members of the Democratic Alliance (DA) conducted a survey amongst residents on August 22 and September 9, and most of the units to which we had access suffered from serious maintenance problems.

The state of the project is clearly visible from the pictures that we took, which can be downloaded from the DA Media Centre.

The majority of the occupants interviewed complained of the same problems, citing them as the main reason why they refused to pay their rentals. Roof and ceiling leaks, dampness, and fungus growing on the walls were the most common problems mentioned by tenants. Other maintenance complaints were broken or leaking toilets and cracks in walls.

These complaints were also evident in a joint oversight visit to the project by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on September 9. Downpipes that had slid out of the outlets were causing rainwater to cascade down from the roofs. Exposed service ducts were also seen across the 705 units thereby leaving them open to abuse.

Even more dismaying is that there is an office in the complex where tenants are supposed to report maintenance problems. This "office" was firmly locked during our visit. Tenants indicated that reporting problems to this office when they do have access, was a waste of time as none of the problems reported are attended to.

The denials by Thubelisha that there are maintenance problems and the actual lack of expenditure on maintenance (only R180,000 were spent in the last year) will not contribute to a solution to the rent boycott. Currently, only 4% of the annual rentals are collected.

The DA will engage the minister through parliamentary questions on a solution to this impasse, and I will also requested through the Chairperson that  Thubelisha/Housing Development Agency be called before the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements to account for their apparent ignorance regarding the problems at the N2 Gateway.

Statement issued by Butch Steyn, MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of human settlements, September 11 2009

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter