The Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements wants solution to non-payment claims
The Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements has given the Department of Human Settlements until Wednesday, 12 March to resolve allegations of non-payment levelled against it by some building contractors in the Eastern Cape.
According to the Committee Chairperson, Ms Nomhle Dambuza, some contractors in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality wrote to the Committee claiming that they had not received payment for the work they performed as far back as 2009.
Ms Dambuza says these companies wrote to the Committee, claiming that they had not been paid for the work they performed in the area of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape. These companies alleged that they only received a portion of the money owed to them. They say some of the invoices they sent for payment were disputed by the department.
In its response, the department said the payments to these companies were done once their work had been verified by the implementing agents. The department said some of the invoices by these contractors were not verified by the implementing agents. This is what led to a dispute. Based on this arrangement, the department said it could not pay non-certified invoices, saying it had no legal basis to pay invoices not verified by the implementing agent.
In its attempt to sort out the debacle, as per a mandate given by the Committee, the department appointed an independent quantity surveyor to assist in verifying these claims. Ms Dambuza said the quantity surveyor would have to work with specialists representing the aggrieved companies, under the supervision of the department, in verifying these claims this coming Monday, 10 March.
Upon agreeing on the legitimacy of claims, specialists, the national and provincial department, together with Nelson Mandela Metro are expected to table their report before their Executive Authorities by Tuesday, 11 March prior to tabling it in Parliament on Wednesday, 12 March.
The Committee said it expects the department to ensure that all affected and aggrieved companies as well as the implementing agents are in attendance at the Wednesday meeting.
“Having all stakeholders at the Wednesday meeting will help us settle this matter once and for all. We do not want to be told that company A or B is not here when questions requiring that company’s response are being asked. We want the department to ensure that all affected parties attend the meeting on Wednesday,” said Ms Dambuza.
She added: “This matter is long overdue and as a current Committee, we are determined to sort it out before this Parliament rises. We do not want the incoming Parliament to be seized with matters that occurred during our term.”
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Temba Gubula, Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 078 735 8809
Tel: 021 403 8307
E-mail: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
