Whistle-blower loses his job

A municipal employee lost his job after raising the alarm on poorly constructed RDP houses in the area, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela told a packed town hall in Klerksdorp

“The complainant, who worked for the municipality, alleges that he was told by the contractor that a political solution would be sought,” said Madonsela.

Madonsela is in Klerksdorp as part of a systematic investigation of complaints regarding RDP houses nationwide.

Her office had received at least 2,305 complaints regarding RDP houses from residents in the North West, she said.

She said the employee stated that he had called in the SA Home Builders Council and the SA Bureau of Standards to assess the houses.

The two organisations advised that the house foundations be destroyed and re-built as they were of a very poor standard.

The employee ended up losing his job, said Madonsela.

“This is one of the cases we are investigating in this province.

“Mayor Michael Khauoe tells me the municipality has its [own] side of the story.” 

Madonsela said she would do an on-site inspection later in the day.