Leeto La Polokwane still on track, says muni
The Polokwane Municipality, one of 13 cities to implement an Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN), began the Leeto la Polokwane project in 2016 and at the time, the project was expected to last 18 months.
POLOKWANE – Sub-contractors under the Leeto la Polokwane project have downed tools since September 2019 saying they have not been paid by the main contractor.
The Polokwane Municipality, one of 13 cities to implement an Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN), began the Leeto la Polokwane project in 2016 and at the time, the project was expected to last 18 months.
Read more: Leeto la Polokwane the journey begins
Leeto la Polokwane will bring state-of-the-art public transport to the city of Polokwane but has seen the beginning of 2020 with no communication from the municipality on when it will be launched.
One of the sub-contractors, working under KPMM (the main contractor) says the initial agreement stated there would be monthly payments made to the sub-contractors for the work done or the machinery supplied to the project.
This, however, was not the case.
“From the onset, we would often mobilise each other as sub-contractors and have to fight in order to get our money.
“Things went smoothly for a while, but it was at the beginning of 2019 when things started going sour.”
The man told BONUS the contractor would often miss monthly payments and when asked about it, they were only given a future date on which the money would be paid.
This, he says, resulted in strikes, marches and protests in order to gain the attention of the main contractor.
“In May we decided to engage the municipality through the municipal manager hoping they would intervene. As expected, the municipality was of the view that their contract was with a contractor, and not with us, so their hands were tied.”
According to the man, another company was introduced as the main contractor in June.
“We demanded that this time, the arrangements be made in writing that the new contractor would take over payments from KPMM including all outstanding payments, of which I have proof.”
The new contractor reportedly lasted less than three months and during this time, they sub-contractors were only paid half of what they were owed.
“The new contractor returned the contract to KPMM in September saying he would not be able to continue and that was the last time the project moved.
“There has been no work at my site and the municipality still refuses to help in any way. I am personally owed more than R500 000. You can imagine the full amount owed to all of us, if one sub-contractor is owed that amount.”
Contacted for comment on the matter, the project manager for KPMM’s phone rang unanswered.
The Municipal Spokesperson, Thipa Selala told BONUS the municipality is only in an agreement with the main contractor and should the sub-contractors have an issue, they should consider a legal route.
He did, however, confirm that they were in the process of terminating the contract with KPMM.
“We will follow all due processes to ensure completion of the outstanding work.”
Selala said the implementation of the Leeto la Polokwane service was on track and is expected to go live with phase 1A in June.
“All the infrastructure developments that are required for the implementation of the system’s phase 1A are in place.”
