Editor – Re: Hail damage in December 2012.
In answer to a question from myself to the Minister of Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs, the Minister has stated that Emnambithi/Ladysmith Municipality appointed six contractors to each repair 600 houses, a total of 3600 houses. These contractors are: Lamanjolo Investments – NELSPRUIT; NM Quality Surveyors and Phakathi Shabane Consulting Engineering JV – DURBAN; Hencon V. O. B JV – DURBAN NORTH; Bkekzas Trading Enterprise – LADYSMITH; Mandlethu Projects – WESTVILLE; and Tshwara Thebe Construction cc – LADSMITH.
As can be seen, four of the six contractors are not from Ladysmith! One asks what process was followed to select these contractors. The Minister states that as at April 2015, a total of R16.8 million had been paid to these contractors.
The DA calls upon the ANC-run Emnambithi/Ladysmith Municipality to fully disclose the process followed to appoint these contractors, as well as a full list of the contractors who may have tendered but who were not appointed.
The Minister also states that those with “their own resources” (whatever that may mean) and those who have insurance WILL NOT qualify for assistance.
While our people cannot double-dip by being compensated by both insurance as well as the State, it seems to be unfair that those who don’t take out insurance (and by so doing, save money by not paying premiums) may get assistance from the State.
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