North West Legislature’s Public Works Committee to call the department over irregular appointments of contractors
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Public Works, Roads and Transport will be calling the Department of Public Works, Roads and transport to respond on the delays and irregular appointments of contractors that has cost the state over R220 million in the Koster-Lichtenburg road to date.
The Committee, this week went on an oversight visit to inspect the Mmamutla road, Maphoitsile road, the road between Wolmaranstad and Schweizer-Reneke and the Lichtenburg/Koster road, with the Chairperson of the Committee Hon. Hoffman Galeng leading the delegation going to Mmamutla and Hon. Mahlakeng Mahlakeng leading the delegation to Koster-Lichtenburg.
In a bizarre incident, Hon. Mahlakeng was explaining to the media how the Lichtenburg/Koster, which has been under construction for more than six years, has killed a lot of people in the province, and an accident happened on the road as he was speaking to the media.
The road is an alternative route to the expensive N4 toll gate route for those who are coming in and out the province form Gauteng.
Hon Mahlakeng said the road continues to be a problem in the province. “The department has already spent over R220 million in this road and it has been under construction for more than six years. All this happens because the contractors are appointed on an irregular basis.
“Notwithstanding the frustration that our people experience through the delays in the construction of this road, the road continues to kill our people,” said Hon. Mahlakeng.
The Committee also discovered during the visit that another company had been appointed to complete the road.
Hon. Mahlakeng pointed out to the departmental official who was on site that the appointment of the contractor who is to complete the remainder of the work, is in conflict with Treasury Regulation No. 32 of 2011. “In this instance the contractor who is going to complete the remainder of the work is a term contractor who is appointed in the department for the next three years for maintenance work.
“Koster-Lichtenburg road is a Capex road and therefore it cannot be classified under maintenance whatsoever. This means the remaining portion of this road should have been advertise because it is above R10 million,” said Hon Mahlakeng.
Committee Chairperson Hon. Hoffman Galeng said the department has a tendency to appoint contractors without following proper procurement processes.
“They have been appointing contractors irregularly without following proper procurement processes, resulting to litigations that waste taxpayers’ money.
“We have now discovered that they have appointed a company to complete the road. But, still they did not follow proper procurement processes.
“How do you appoint a company for a job that is over R10 million without going to tender,” said Hon Galeng.
All members of the media are invited to attend the meetings.
For more information:
Namhla Luhabe
Cell: 079 527 0628
Namhla Luhabe
Deputy Manager - Communications
Cell: 079 527 0628
Tel: 018 392 7000
Fax: 086 695 3784
Email: namhla@nwpl.org.za
