Locals march over apparent unfairness in Bethal Hospital project

BETHAL – Bethal Business Forum (BBF) and the local youth took their frustrations regarding jobs and business opportunities to the streets on Monday, 13 March.

Locals are up in arms over employment and tenders for the rebuilding of Bethal Hospital that was launched by Mr Gillion Mashego, MEC of the Department of Health, in November.

Since the launch, the forum and locals have not been happy about the way the main contractor is conducting business and said the contractor is not empowering locals, but is suppressing them.

BBF and locals handed over two memoranda directed to Ms Flora Maboa-Boltman, executive mayor of Govan Mbeki Municipality, and Mr Gillion Mashego, MEC of the Department of Health.

Read more: Residents up in arms over Bethal Hospital project

Handing over the memoranda, Mr Thando Zwane, chairman of the forum, said in January they had a meeting with the main contractor, CCB, and government officials, including the MEC of Health, during which some resolutions where made but were not implemented.

He said when the police intervened, the mayor’s office did not respond after promises were made that a meeting would have been arranged to make the necessary resolutions in a peaceful manner.

“We were instead served with fake court orders that we should not go to the hospital.

“The BBF and the community of Bethal demand a 60 per cent procurement for all government contracts in Bethal and local contractors should be considered first, even at the mines around Bethal.

“Thirty per cent of all contracts should go towards local enterprise development according to the Government Gazette.

“We should have access to all the necessary information about the IDP of the municipality.”

Mr Zwane said the forum is demanding that the steering committee and the CLO are disbanded because they were appointed unlawfully and they do not serve the interests of the local contractors and the community.

He said they demand rates that are in line with the labour rates because CCB if offering R17 per hour instead of R29-31.

“Thirty per cent of the contract should go towards local enterprise development of SMMEs.

“The corporate social investment must be implemented by local contractors.”

Read more: Disgruntled locals stop R560 million Bethal Hospital project

Ms Maboa-Boltman received both memoranda and apologised that the MEC could not receive his memorandum because he was busy with other departmental engagements.

She commended the marchers for their good behaviour while handing over the memoranda at the municipal offices, because they did not disturb the project.

The mayor she said she will respond in the next 14 days.

Also see: Bethal Hospital under construction

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