**** **** **** **** **** ARTIST!!!!!

Around June 2023 Kyle Pronk from MODCUBE in OUDTSHOORN was referred to us by the architect. At this point in time we were living in New York City and did not meet Mr Pronk in person. All communication was via Whatsapp. We were looking for a REGISTERED BUILDER who would work with the architect to create a 185 2m home where we eventually could retire. In our first few conversations with Mr Pronk did we ASK him if he was a registered builder which he rep**** "YES I AM" We did not think it was necessary for us to see his credentials since he was referred to us by our architect who told us that he has worked with Mr Pronk on a few projects in the past. I did research his company and found some information online which all seemed legit. He did not have many reviews and the ONE he had seemed positive. He also send us pictures of a project that he was working on at the time at Klein Jerusalem just outside of Oudtshoorn. I did ask him for at least 5 more references however, never received any of that.

Mr Pronk send us a quote (R2 200 000) which he compiled from the architects drawings and we approved. The deposit he required was 50%, followed by 35% when reaching roof height and the balance upon completion. We transferred R1 180 000 to his account for the project to commence. I kept asking Mr Pronk to send me the references from previous clients and he always gave me the same excuse…."I promise I will get you those references" yet never received anything. Again, I assumed cause he was referred to us by our architect that everything should be ok.

After transferring the deposit work started on February 22 2024. Work commenced very slowly and there were ALWAYS just around 3 men working on our project. In his quote there were 9 men suppose to be on the project. We continuously asked him why there were only 3 men on the site and he kept telling us that he has another team finishing up with a project and then the remaining 6 will be on our house. This went on for MONTHS. Since we were getting closer to winter did his excuses start to change. Then it was raining and the men could not work, or the wind was blowing too hard and the men could not work. ALWAYS ONE EXCUSE AFTER ANOTHER. Between Feb 2024 and June 2025 MODCUBE completed the foundations and part of the framing. At this point he required us to pay the 35% since he was roof height. They were only roof height on the flat area (around 40 square meter) and I told him that I did not feel comfortable giving him extra money until ALL the framing was completed. Main house AS WELL as the flat. From this point the work started to slow down exponentially to days were there were actually no people on the site AT ALL.

We arrived back in South Africa on June 2 2025 and met with Mr Pronk around June 18. The foundation was done and they were busy with the framing. At this rate the speed of the construction was very slow. AGAIN his story would be that he was going to get more men on our house but alas nothing happened. When OUR builder and his team of 5 men (not associated) with Kyle finished with the pool we told Kyle that we wanted them on the house. Bear in mind, we have paid for ALL THE LABOR set out in his quote. He told us that he can’t afford our men but was willing to take on the main builder and one more person. We agreed that he would cover some of the labor cost for these 2 men. He also promised that his men will start working weekends. When we notice no one was working on weekends we asked our builder, who have since been promoted to head the construction what the problem was. He said Kyle did not want to pay the weekend rates, Sat time and half, and Sundays double. We agreed that we would split the cost for the labor. He paid 20% and we paid 80.

Kyle gave us a move in date of October 1 2025. Then we were promised November 1st and then again Dec 1st. At this point have we spend R70 000 on rent and we needed to rent another 6 months at R70 000. Around the last week of October we still had NO DOORS neither ANY WINDOWS in our house. Neither was very little work completed around the house and we had no patio decking. We asked him where the doors and windows were and he told us that it was ordered and we would receive it in 2 weeks. We asked him for the name of the supplier and he refused to give us this information. 2 weeks later he told us that our order got mixed up with another clients order and that it will take another 2 weeks. After another 2 weeks he told us that he ordered the wrong color (white) and that the supplier is now correcting our order. The windows appeared Dec 10 and in a rush did the installation take place. Some of the doors were wrong and some windows were also missing. At this point we also had NO GARAGE door which we had paid R28000 for and we had all the solar equipment installed on the back wall (Around R300 000) We needed to close up the house in order to get property insurance. AGAIN he told us that the door was on order and has not arrived yet. He then concocted a door in his factory and it was installed. DEF NOT R28 000. On Dec 12 The house was closed up and everyone went on holiday. The supervisor contacted us and asked us if they could please get paid for Nov and December. Kyle invoiced us for the hours and we paid the wages over to him whilst he was suppose to pay the workers. He told us that they have not been paid and Kyle would give them one excuse after the other that he would bring the money but never shows up. Dec 20th the men contacted us to ask if we have paid over the wages to Kyle since none of them have received any money for December NEITHER for the weekends that they have worked. We send them the proof of payment. We then contacted Kyle and asked him why the men were not paid. He told us that he was going to pay them. A week later and they still did not receive any money. We then paid the wages to the supervisor who in return paid it directly over to the men. The men then told us that they have not been paid since November and that Kyle kept telling them that he will bring their wages to the building site. It NEVER HAPPENED.

Jan 6 2026 we contacted Kyle to ask him for a list of EVERYTHING that was outstanding as well as supplies that still needed to be ordered to finish up the house. He ignored us until around Jan 10 to let us know that he will be back at work on Jan 12 with his crew. On Monday Jan 12 we contacted Kyle to ask him AGAIN for the list as well as a list of what was happening that week. He told us that he was running around placing orders and that his men were on site. They were NOT on site. None of his men were going back to work for him. They wanted their wages first before they would return. On Wed Jan 14th we scheduled a meeting with Kyle. We compiled a list of the work that was outstanding as well as the building materials that we already had paid him for R1 500 000. He told us that he had not ordered any materials moving forward cause SARS had frozen his account and he had no access to his bank. I asked him where the R1 500 000 was that we have paid over to him for building materials and he responded it was in his account. I asked him to see a copy of his account as well as the notice from SARS. We are STILL WAITING. He also has not returned to the site and removed himself from the Whatsapp group. Since the past 2 weeks have we send him several messages requesting the information and had 2 replies…..”I’m working on something to see a way forward for this”…….and “I will have an update for you shortly” We are currently working with most of his crew back on our site. The outstanding work that needed to be done, including labor and materials amount to R1 700 000 million. The building work that needs to be corrected amounts to R500 000. THIS WAS MONEY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE PAID HIM!

On Jan 16 we scheduled a site meeting with the engineer, Architect, Electrician, Kyle and the supervisor. 15 min before the meeting Kyle contacted us via Whatsapp and told us that he was sick and vomiting and that he would not make the meeting. The architect and engineer walked the house and informed us that A LOT of building was not according to their plans and that Kyle had cut a lot of corners and did not build according to their specs.

We have hired an attorney who yesterday had send a letter to Kyle with no response. We are still waiting to see the proof of our money in his account and the notice from SARS.

The following items were also ******

Aircondition unit R25 000 Copper showered and taps R7000

In conclusion....Mr Pronk stole R1 500 000 as well as R500 000 of work that had to be redone and corrected. After ALL THE SOLAR PANELS (16) were installed the ENTIRE ROOF had to be lifted to correct the rafters. All the Rhino boards inside the house (6mm) had to be removed and replaced with 12mm thick boards which was not done according to the architectural specifications. The deck had to be broken down and replaced cause it was not done according to the engineers specifications. And so the list goes on and on and on and on.....