Mchunu warns contractors to deliver on time
Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has warned that contractors doing water reticulation in Giyani should be managed so that the project runs smoothly.
His warning comes after subcontractors on Monday, April 22, blockaded the entry into the Nsami Water Treatment Plant demanding that they be paid before anyone gets in. They claimed that they completed the work on February 28 but were not paid. “We started closing the entrance last week demanding our payment, but instead they brought in bouncers and threatened us with guns,” explained Sunboy Chavalala one of the disgruntled subcontractors.
“Yesterday when they learned that the minister was coming, they deposited R40 000 to each subcontractor, which is way too little because they owe each one of us R269 000, and we still have to pay our workers from it,” he said. The blockade was later resolved after the Deputy Minister of Human Settlement, Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, arrived at the scene and engaged with both the contractor and the subcontractors.
Also read: Mchunu visits Giyani after water protests
In response to the protest by subcontractors, the minister said although issues may occur between contractors and subcontractors, they want the contractor to properly manage the project. “We’re under pressure ourselves and this is why we are pressurising them,” he said referring to contractors. Asked how they had resolved the issue between contractors and subcontractors, the Mopani District Municipality Mayor Pule Shayi responded that they were going to pay the concerned parties.
“We have made a commitment that starting tomorrow if they submit what is due and necessary they should be getting paid by Friday,” he said. Meanwhile, the minister was in Giyani on Monday and Tuesday to inspect the progress of water reticulation projects that are taking place in various parts of the municipality.
Also read: Corruption the reason for Giyani’s water delays
Before embarking on the site visit, he said the government wants to see the refurbishment of the water treatment plant at the Nsami Dam (from 15 to 30 megalitres of water per day) finalised by midMay. “Currently they are around 21 to 22 megalitres per day, and they should be done by May 15,” he said.
Mchunu also explained that his department had resolved the issue with a traditional leader in Vhembe who had blocked the construction of the Nandoni pipeline to Giyani because he wanted to be compensated if the pipeline passed on his property. “The officials will be able to tell you whether we have completed paying him, but I know that it was a couple of millions and he was happy with that,” said the minister indicating that the water from Nandoni was now flowing freely to the Nsami Dam.
