Despite missing its completion date in 2020, the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works says the Mpumalanga Parliamentary Village buildings will be completed by December 15.

The 50ha site for this long overdue project, Woodhouse 309JT on the road to Kaapsehoop, which was started in November 2017, was purchased for about R30m from the Matsafeni Trust. This construction project will still be extended, however, since the number of Members of Legislature has increased. The department is in the process of engaging with the trust for this reason.

On Thursday, November 14, the MEC for public works, roads and transport, Thulasizwe Thomo, said so far they have spent over R600m on the project. However, the previously estimated amount for the entire construction was projected at R300m.

ALSO READ: Mpumalanga MEC of community safety calls for investigation into Barberton Police Station fire

Over the past few years, delays with this project varied from an alleged construction mafia, the signing of the transfer documents and the settlement of an outstanding amount, workers protesting and community unrest.

The Select Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) said these delays resulted in overspending of taxpayers’ money. Its chairperson, Desmond Moela, said the department will be held accountable based on its commitment of completing the project in December.

“These are finances and Scopa’s responsibility is to make sure that they account for each and every cent they are using.”

According to Thomo, two factors have contributed to the project take so long – daily stoppages due to various reasons and concerns by the people working on the site, and a lack of funds. “There was a year, I think it was the previous financial year, in which Treasury did not finance or make an allocation for the completion of the parliamentary village,” he said.

Thomo said the construction mafia issue is beyond their control as they do not deal with safety issues, and that the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison is responsible for those.

“We are in a process of developing a comprehensive plan that will speak to the provincial problems we are confronted with, especially if it relates to construction mafias.”

However, the opposing political parties did not share the same view regarding the reasons given for these delays. The Mpumalanga DA’s provincial leader, Bosman Grobler, said what was said is the same excuse the department uses for all the infrastructure projects in the province.

“It is the communities who are not happy, the constructors and subcontractors that have squabbles; it is individuals working for contractors that know that they work for government, who are unhappy. We have heard all these excuses.”

ALSO READ: Mpumalanga MECs take a stance against food poisoning

Thoko Mashiane, the chairperson of Mpumalanga ActionSA, said the contractor they are using is one of the worst-performing ones, yet they keep giving it projects. “You ask yourself why they are doing that, because these variation orders these people are asking for everyday are getting into the department’s budget, and ActionSA cannot allow that.”

Thomo said they are planning to add more units to the project to accommodate all the members coming on board in the legislature, as well as security detail.

There is still no water and electricity connected to the site, although it is said the final project will be handed over in March 2025.