KZN government takes action against underperforming contractors to combat corruption
Image: Supplied
The ongoing struggle against corruption and inefficiency in South Africa's public sector is taking a notable turn as the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) department of Transport of Human Settlements moves to terminate contracts with underperforming contractors.
Recently, KZN's Public Works Department, led by MEC Martin Meyer, took a similar stance in d to tackling the persistent issues of poor performance among contractors by enforcing stricter measures against negligent contractors.
Public Works had six contractors blacklisted and warned others that if they saw the department as a means to make a quick buck, they must be prepared for their fate to be cemented with accountability.
The initiatives garnered the support of Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), a prominent civil society organisation, which deems it a crucial step in enhancing accountability and transparency within government operations.
OUTA's CEO, Wayne Duvenage, said the moves had the potential to drastically reduce instances of corruption and maladministration.
"Yes, we do support this. In fact, we call for it to become more formalised and a requirement of government to use this as a way of tackling maladministration and the waste or corrupt use of national and municipal funds," Duvenage stated.
He called upon the National Treasury to engage with civil society to discuss improvements in effectiveness, highlighting the need for greater accountability in public service delivery.
Duvenage's comments came following the latest announcement from Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma, regarding the termination of a road construction contract with a contractor due to prolonged delays and failure to meet contractual obligations.
The contract, valued at approximately R87.8 million, was intended for the rehabilitation of the main road P577-02, which connects Cowie's Hill to New Germany and served as a vital link to major highways.
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"This road was handed over to the contractor on 09 June 2023, with construction starting on 02 August 2023, and an initial completion date set for 24 May 2024," explained Ndabezinhle Sibiya, the MEC's spokesperson.
However, despite repeated extensions and ongoing oversight, the contractor failed to make substantial progress, prompting Duma and his department to take decisive action.
According to Sibiya, the MEC was inundated with complaints from the public regarding the construction delays spanning over 400 days since he took office.
After conducting regular inspections and weekly progress meetings with the contractor, the department concluded that termination was the only viable option.
"After inspecting the construction site, holding weekly progress meetings, and supporting the contractor, we have made the decision to terminate the contract," Sibiya stated.
The department was now in the process of re-measuring incomplete work and drafting a tender for a new contractor to take over.
As the KZN government takes this firm stance, MEC Duma reaffirmed his commitment to accountability, stating, "As an elected public representative, I need to be accountable to the people. A lot of blame, at times rightly so, has been placed at the feet of the department as the custodian of public transportation.
"However, the reality is that we have contractors who are failing to honour their contracts."
Duma further announced that punitive measures would be implemented to recover funds from contractors who abandon projects or fail to meet deadlines.
Such measures, he believed, were essential to ensure the integrity of public service delivery and restore public faith in government operations.
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