SIGNALLING a shift in its approach to dealing with incompetent and failing contractors linked to the KZN Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the contractor who was appointed at Nkonjeni Hospital in Ulundi has been dismissed and taken to court.
According to the department, the termination of contract comes as the contractor, who was appointed to carry out construction work to the hospital’s maternity complex, mothers lodge and support services, unreasonably dragged out what was meant to be a 26-month project which began in July 2020 over five years. The contractor was also found to have used sub-standard materials to maximise profits, flouted several safety regulations on site, missed numerous readjusted deadlines, ignored previous requests to vacate the project, and is suspected of mobilizing the local community to protest on-site, the department said.
KZN Public Works and Infrastructure has, therefore, been left with no choice but to issue a letter of termination to the contractor relating to the over R98 million project.
In the letter, the department discloses its right to invoke Clause 9.2 of the GCC 2nd Edition 2010, following the contractor’s failure to resume work for as much as 14 consecutive days.
Furthermore, as contained in the letter, as part of measures to address financial consequences KZN Public Works and Infrastructure indicates that:
• Payment deduction shall be withheld from the contractor for the construction replacement so that the existing work can be completed.
• Should the cost to complete the remaining work exceed the amount that would have been paid to the contractor, the contractor will have to pay the difference.
• Any excess amount is considered a debt owed by the contractor to the department and may be deducted from any amounts due to the contractor.
Project delays to the 207-bed hospital, which services 17 local clinics, as a result, affected many residents and expecting mothers of the rural area of northern KZN.
MEC Martin Meyer has welcomed the decision to terminate the existing contract.
The MEC has also thanked efforts by department officials as led by Acting Head of Department, Dr Vish Govender.
“The days of contractors conducting sub-standard work and still getting paid, while citizens continue to suffer, are over. Contractors continue to be a valuable stakeholder to us and wherever possible we are more than willing to assist, should they need our help, in completing projects. However, we will also come down hard on those whose agenda is simply to milk the department of taxpayers’ monies with no intention to deliver a quality product,” said MEC Meyer.
