The Inkatha Freedom Party in the province is shocked and concerned about the mediocre work by KwaZulu-Natal contractors who have dismally failed to complete projects on schedule and commensurate with good standards of quality.
This follows after the delays in construction of the long-awaited Port Shepstone Intermodal Facility which has left commuters and traders baffled over the state of the Port Shepstone bus rank which was meant to be converted into a temporary taxi rank. The initial plan was to overhaul the existing bus rank – at a cost of R10 million by the end of January 2019. However, this could not be done as the contractor has left the site due to alleged ‘technicalities’.
The IFP demands answers from the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) on the following key concerns:
- What are the so called ‘technicalities’ that has led the contractor to vacate the construction site?
- Of the 10-million-rand budget allocated, how much has been spent thus far?
- Who is the contractor who was awarded the tender to construct the new rank?
- Was the selection criteria used to award the tender free from corruption and nepotism?
- What action has been taken against this incompetent contractor?
All these pertinent questions demand truthful answers as public funds were utilized in this project and those who are guilty of misuse of these funds must be arrested and prosecuted. The IFP condemns the irresponsible behaviour of some contractors who fail to complete work on schedule and deliver shoddy workmanship.
The IFP calls on government to blacklist all local and foreign contractors who abandon projects or who take too long to complete projects as well as those who fail to deliver a quality end product. Such delayed projects are costing the province billions of Rands. The IFP advises contractors to adhere to time frames and stipulations regarding quality as the party does not condone poor work ethic. Some contractors disappear from the site after receiving hefty advance payments or delay completion by working at a very slow pace. These contractors must be dealt with as they are abusing taxpayer’s money.
Consultants who defend shoddy works or are involved in alleged collusion with incompetent contractors are also costing the public large sums of money. These consultants must desist defending shoddy works and serve to safeguard the province’s meager public funds. The only reason for consultants defending an errant contractor is because they are responsible for certifying the job.
The IFP believes that some projects are not finalized due to corruption. Corruption is a cancer which is eroding the very fabric of our society. There is therefore an urgent need to take radical measures of rooting corruption out and restoring moral practices.
To this end, we urge the Honourable State President, Cyril Ramaphosa to declare corruption a national disaster and implement strategies that would effectively rid our society of this scourge.
The IFP further demands that KZN MEC’s of Transport and COGTA Hon. Mxolisi Kaunda and Hon. Nomusa Dube Ncube to investigate why the Port Shepstone Intermodal Facility has not yet been completed. We also believe that the Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane must use her constitutional powers to investigate this travesty.
Issued by:
Hon. Steven Moodley MPL
IFP KZN Spokesperson on Transport
083 253 2277
