North West MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport has issued a stern warning to emerging contractors to start performing or risk being shown the door. Mahlakeng Mahlakeng cited endless delays in the completion of important road and building projects often characterised by poor workmanship.
“We are becoming increasingly less shy and much more stoic in cancelling contracts where we are convinced that emerging contractors just cannot perform in spite of the assistance and leniency from us,” he said.
Mahlakeng said, “He was saddened by this pattern, more so because it affected building projects also included clinics, schools and hospitals. “The same goes to some contractors tasked with the responsibility to do a range of activities like grass cutting, resealing or closing potholes,” he said.
These are very central to the delivery of services in various communities in our province. We will have clamp down on underperforming contractors who are wasting valuable time and funds Mahlakeng warned. He said communities who were entitled to quality structures continued to suffer as a result of inefficiencies by some of the emerging contractors.
Mahlakeng said, “It was not doom as gloom for emerging contractors, adding that some of the emerging contractors have truly emerged and are giving excellent service. “In any battle, not all sons come back. We continue to nurture where we can and terminate contracts where this is warranted,” he said.
Mahlakeng said, “The department would continue to support emerging contractors so that they too can learn and develop. “They need our support as well to advance to a higher Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) grading. However our patience and leniency in this regard should never be interpreted by emerging contractors to suggest that government readily accepts and reward none performance and or shoddy workmanship,” Mahlakeng said.
Others, with all the support that we give them, end up deserving to be shown the door.
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