Vuwani Police Station still incomplete 12 years later
Incompetent contractors have been blamed for the decade long wait for a proper police station in an area known for crime and violent service delivery protests.
LIMPOPO – It was a project initially budgeted at R27m by the Department of Public Works, but of which the cost has ballooned to over R40m paid to “incompetent contractors”.
This statement was recently made by Limpopo Action SA chairperson, Victor Mothemela in reference to the incomplete Vuwani Police Station, of which construction started in 2012.
“Vuwani is widely known for high crime rate and violent service delivery protests. The area has 125 police officers who must service 96 villages. It is clear that residents here are in desperate need of an all-round well-resourced police station and a further delay in completing the station will undermine law enforcement agencies’ ability to keep crime levels low,” he said during a recent visit.
Shortly after, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala assured residents that a new contractor will complete the project.
He engaged with scores of residents and traditional leaders, outlining a clear action plan and discussed the way forward for other service delivery related matters in Vuwani and surrounding villages.
A resident, Abraham Gamela told CV they believe the completion of the project will improve service at the police station.”We have been waiting for such a long time and crime is rife in our area.”
The contract of R26.9m was awarded to Musan Trading Enterprise which started working on March 4, with the expected completion date of August 28, 2025.
The scope of work for the contractor includes completing the barracks, administration block at the police station, and community centre.
Acting deputy director-general of Public Works, Nkosana Kubeka said all of the contractors thus far faced challenges in completing the project.
“Only 20-25% of the work was finished by the first contractor, who spent between R5m and R7m before the contract was terminated. In 2015, a second contractor, bidding below the estimate, failed to complete the work within 12 months,” said Kubeka.
Despite assurances from subsequent contractors, the completion remained elusive, prompting the termination of their contracts as well.
“We are not here to make promises, but to work on the projects we started. We are a government that listens and responds to its people,” Zikalala said.
