ECD centre construction of millions of rands comes to standstill
For the past five months, the disgruntled workers have reportedly not been paid.
A R28 million Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre project in Boipatong is at stand still as the main constructor claims to have been threatened by the community.Photo: Mduduzi Mathebula
The construction of the R28 million Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre has come to a halt. The building has been left half done.
Community Liaison Officer (CLO) Jabulane Patose blamed the main contractor for not fulfilling his promises, Sedibeng Ster reported.
“For the past five months, we have not been paid,” he said.
The disgruntled workers were apparently left with their hands in their hair.
“Every month when we are supposed to be paid, there are more excuses than delivery.”
The main contractor said he is not in the wrong as he has also hired local subcontractors.
“I have followed the right procedures. The same community that accuses me has been given jobs. To add salt to the wounds, they threatened to attack me. These people have a bad attitude,” he said.
“They actually want to bite the hand that feeds them. I could not stomach it, so I decided to hold back the work. No one should think that I will run away. I have entered into a contract with the government that I must fulfil,” he said, adding that he had on several occasions engaged with Patose and is not sure if there is any political influence in the matter.
Patose said the main contractor is stubborn and not interested in the concerns of the local community.
“He is from Johannesburg.
“It’s about time the local government stopped giving these people from outside attention and think about us,” he said.
– Caxton News Service
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