A Free State housing project in Springfontein was abandoned several months ago because the contractor ran out of cash, the Democratic Alliance said on Thursday.
Party spokesman Peter Frewen said the project, involving the building of some 50 houses in the Kopanong local municipality, had been idle for the past six months. The foundations for the houses were the only evidence of the project.
Frewen said the DA asked newly-appointed co-operative governance MEC Olly Mlamleli to urgently attend to the problem. He said the project was at a standstill because the department was not paying contractors.
Department spokeswoman Senne Bogatsu said the main contractor received help from the department to buy material and obtained a private loan for the construction.
“The contractor was paid for the work done, completed foundations.”
She said records showed he had not claimed further payment from the department. The department paid contractors on completion and certification of work done, and not before.
However, Bogatsu confirmed that “financial constraints” in the department had affected the contractors' progress. She said the department would meet with the contractor soon.
Frewen said local contractors were told they would only be paid in the next financial year.
He said another concern was that building materials were left at the sites, with no control over what happened to it. Bogatsu said the contractor was responsible for the safety of the material, which was handed to him.
“The contractor would be liable for any losses.”
The DA said Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale would be questioned on what amount was initially budgeted for the project and why contractors were not paid in the current financial year. - Sapa