Timber! log homes felled by bad work

Every time I've logged on to Braam Botha's timber homes website this past week, I've had to fight off mild panic.

There was usually at least one other online guest on the site at the same time. At one time, there were four of us.

If I'd been able to yell "Beware!" to these anonymous users, I would have.

So today I'm going to yell and hope people are listening.

Irate clients of Botha, a Pretoria-based designer and builder of timber houses, say he has taken their hard-earned cash to build log homes and then abandoned the site, leaving half-built, substandard structures.

The 46-year-old, aka Cornelius Abram Smit Botha, is alleged to have been doing this for a decade or more, with nothing or nobody able to stop him.

From Magoebaskloof to Knysna, Limpopo to Port Elizabeth, at least 15 homeowners say they've lost thousands, some close on R1-million, in Botha's botched jobs.

Most have been led to him through his various websites, which boast images of homes supposedly built by him over the past 20 years.

It was one of these websites that attracted Glenda and David Hancock, who signed up with Botha's ENI Log Homes to build their R917000 holiday home in Magoebaskloof. Work started in June 2009 and, by November, they'd paid Botha R880000, but the house was less than half built.

"At this point it was clear there was a problem with the structure," said Glenda. "When we challenged him, he took his team off site, refused to take calls, didn't pitch at meetings and made excuses.

"It was declared structurally unsound by an engineer, and it has cost us just over R800000 to complete the house with another company.

"We didn't sue, as our investigations revealed that he had nothing in his name and it would be a pointless exercise."

Werner Slabbert, vice-president of the Institute of Timber Frame Builders and owner of the company which rebuilt the Hancocks' home, said Botha was not a member.

"The institute has received plenty of complaints," said Slabbert. "I've already fixed about five of his homes."

According to Johannesburg accountant Chad Jeffrey, whose R318000 timber home in Leeupoort was also never finished, the builder trades in the name of up to five close corporations - signing contracts, issuing invoices and providing banking details, using different names.

According to an eight-page dossier on Botha compiled by Jeffrey, Botha signs contracts and trades in the name of entities that either don't exist, have been deregistered or are in the process of deregistration.

Jeffrey signed a contract with Botha's Logs Construction last November, paying a R236000 deposit.

"A day later, he requested another R58000," said Jeffrey. Botha was supposed to complete the job in December 2010, but started the house only this February, just before requesting another R15000.

About a month later, he abandoned the site with the structure only 40% complete. He's agreed to refund Jeffrey R50000 in instalments over the next few weeks, but has already missed his second scheduled payment, citing "cash flow" problems.

Wayne van Vuuren and Julie Rathbone's R282000 holiday home was to have been built in Chrissiesmeer by October last year. By November, they had paid R250000 and the house was still not finished. After they refused to pay another R30000, Botha abandoned the house, also half built. They have spent about R100000 with other builders to finish it.

Craig and Ursula Wearing lost more than R500000 in their dealings with Botha in 2006. "The structure he built was deemed unsafe because the wood was not treated. We got to roof height when the building had to come down," said Ursula.

Tony Visser lost R74000 when his half-built house on the Vaal Dam (pictured) had to be pulled down in 2005. "Botha gets a deposit and starts the project. You complain about shoddy workmanship and inferior material, he leaves the site and you lose your money."

Terry Wiggill, whose incomplete North Riding house Botha abandoned in 2005, has been luckier than most. He secured a R180000 judgment against Botha in 2008 and has been paid R75000 so far.

"If Botha misses another payment, we have an immediate attachment order for any immovable assets," said Wiggill, whose lawyer recently located a property in Botha's name.

Botha referred me to his lawyer, George Schurmann, who said: "He denies the allegations. If there are clients unhappy with his work, they are entitled to pursue legal action against him."

Only two companies are listed under Botha's name with the National Home Builders' Registration Council.

Registration for the first, Designer Log Homes, expired in 2005. Log Homes Factory was registered only in June this year. Registration is valid for a year.

The council's Conrad Mors said neither Botha nor his companies were registered to build new homes between March 2005 and June 2011. It was illegal for an unregistered builder to contract new home building, he said, adding that consumers should report their concerns so the council could "assist in taking appropriate action".

The South African Council for the Architectural Profession, with whom Botha is registered as an architectural technologist, said it had received two complaints.

These will be referred to its investigating committee, which meets later this year.

In the interim, consumers should spread the word. It's probably the best, and certainly the most immediate, protection we have.

Sunday Smile

At Woolworths for going the extra mile to alert customers to its recent hot-water-bottle recall. Besides press releases, website, Facebook and Twitter notices, and SMS contact with account holders who'd bought the product, it put up large signs at all till points.

Sunday Snarl

At medical schemes that continue to frustrate consumers with their inability to demystify rules, codes and industry jargon. Clarity and plain language is what we want and, thanks to the new CPA, can now demand.