Latest news with #Gokool
IOL News
22-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
MEC Siboniso Duma addresses contractor payment delays in KZN Transport
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport Siboniso Duma says delays in the payment of contractors constructing and rehabilitating road infrastructure in KZN was a concern. Image: Supplied The delays in the payment of contractors constructing and rehabilitating road infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal were a concern. The matter was highlighted by MEC of Transport Siboniso Duma during his budget hearing presentation and Annual Performance Plan (APP) at the KZN Legislature Transport Portfolio Committee, on Tuesday. Following the re-tabling of the national Budget by the Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, provincial departments were also required to re-table their budgets. Riona Gokool, MPL and DA spokesperson on transport, was concerned about allegations that contractors are not being paid for services rendered. This despite the department's significantly increased 2025/26 budget of over R13 billion: a 6.2% increase compared to the adjusted 2024/25 appropriation. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Gokool called for: A full disclosure regarding the total value of 2024/25 unpaid invoices and clarity on how the department plans to settle these in 2025/26. A full breakdown of all unpaid contractors from the 2024/25 financial year and the reasons. A timeline of when affected contractors can expect payments. Immediate steps within the DoT to ensure transparent and timely processing of contractor payments going forward. Ringfencing or conditional release of infrastructure and maintenance grant funds until the DoT provides a clear debt settlement plan and payment timeline. Clarity on whether non-payments will impact service delivery and infrastructure rollouts during the current year. The department's infrastructure programme has been allocated a substantial R9.2 billion, with R4.3 billion earmarked for maintenance and R3.8 billion for construction. Gokool said this highlights a mismatch between budget allocation and actual service delivery, particularly if contractors are not being paid or projects are not progressing as intended. According to Gokool, the APP and budget reports make repeated references to prior-year unpaid invoices, specifically noting a spike in expenditure during Quarter one of the 2024/25, which was attributed to late payments from the previous year. She said the department's over-expenditure in that period - R404 million instead of the projected R213 million - raises red flags regarding financial planning and invoice processing systems She added that the DoT's 2025/26 budget makes no clear provision or explanation for settling these outstanding contractor payments, and the progress on disbursing 2024/25 invoices remains unclear 'The ripple effect of non-payments not only affects businesses - it affects workers, their families and local economies - this despite a massive budget supposedly available,' she said. Duma stated that his department continues to prioritise the payment of contractors and that he requested a detailed report from his department heads of delays in payments for the contractors. He also called to prioritise contractors and service providers in rural areas where there is poverty. Duma said that DoT has made great progress in terms of the rollout of road infrastructure projects throughout the corners of the province. 'We have created job opportunities for thousands of people in deep rural areas. We have targeted young people who are worst affected by unemployment. The issue of floods and prolonged rainfall are natural disasters that are affecting our performance,' he said. Duma said that there would be penalties and punitive actions against contractors who squander money and abandon sites without finishing projects. He warned that contractors would be blacklisted and they will be taken to court to recover money.
IOL News
20-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Thubalethu housing project faces delays and financial mismanagement in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal's Thubalethu housing project, which has seen R100 million spent since 2017, remains incomplete, raising concerns over delays, financial mismanagement, and the lack of essential infrastructure. Image: Supplied KwaZulu-Natal's housing woes continue to mount, with R100 million spent since 2017 on the incomplete Thubalethu housing project in Mthonjaneni Municipality (Melmoth). Continued delays, escalating costs, and an incomplete delivery of the project are cause for concern, said Riona Gokool, the Democratic Alliance spokesperson on Human Settlements, on Thursday. According to Gokool, Phase 1A has seen 166 units completed and occupied, while an additional 270 houses in Phase 1B remain incomplete and unsecured. She said that basic fittings such as plumbing, electricity, doors, and ceilings have not been installed due to fears of theft and vandalism, with more than 430 houses only partially constructed to roof level. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading In addition, key infrastructure remains absent, with not a single cent of the R60 million allocated for bulk water infrastructure spent to date 'Equally, sewer systems, a reservoir, road access, and a sufficient electricity supply are all either incomplete or delayed. This is while local and district municipalities have cited financial constraints and poor planning coordination,' she stated. Gokool said that the project initially approved in 2012 to eradicate informal settlements has become yet another example of a 'blocked project', a distressing term that has become all too common in South Africa's housing landscape. Gokool called for: Full transparency from the KZN's DHS regarding all contracts, expenditure, and progress on the Thubalethu project. An audit and consequence management process for delays and any possible financial mismanagement. Acceleration of bulk infrastructure rollout, particularly water, sewer, and electricity connections. Engagement with local communities to prevent further vandalism and to involve beneficiaries in safeguarding the site. According to a report presented to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Human Settlements Portfolio Committee, the housing project experienced various challenges that have hindered progress, with many of these being addressed or are currently being addressed. Continuous delays in the completion of the project have resulted in vandalism and theft. According to the report: The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and engineers identified non-compliance on some sites with specific reference to water seepage and retaining walls. The current electrical power for Thubalethu Township is not sufficient for the whole area of Melmoth. The current area of Thubalethu and its surrounding areas does not have enough water, and the water scheme to source water from Phobane Dam i s under way, but will reach the town of Melmoth and Thubalethu Township in four to eight years from 2021. In June 2023, a Crack Team was formed by the KZN DHS to identify, resolve, and report on all matters that are causing the project to stall. The team identified funding as a challenge for the design of the water purification plant. The finding was that the water borehole was level 2 and therefore needed to be purified to consumable level 0.
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- The Citizen
Condolences extended to KZN light aircraft crash victims' families
THE DA in KZN has called for a probe into the circumstances that led to the light aircraft crash in the Midlands earlier this week. The tragedy claimed the lives of all three occupants aboard the aircraft. According to reports, the aircraft disappeared on Sunday, after departing from Virginia Airport in Durban. ALSO READ: Search for missing aircraft ends in tragedy On Monday, the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre confirmed it had located the aircraft crash site. The DA said it is deeply saddened by the incident and extends heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of the deceased. 'The loss of a young student pilot – who was reportedly operating the aircraft – is particularly devastating, as it represents not only the end of a promising future, but also a loss to South Africa's aviation sector,' said the party. ALSO READ: CIT heist causes havoc on N2 KZN DA Spokesperson on Transport Riona Gokool commended the efforts of all emergency personnel and search and rescue teams who worked tirelessly to locate the missing aircraft. 'Their dedication and professionalism in the face of adversity must be acknowledged and appreciated,' said Gokool. Gokool added that Transport MEC Siboniso Duma confirmed that the matter will be handed over to the SAPS Accident and Incident Investigation Division and the South African Civil Aviation Authority for an official investigation. 'As part of KZN's GPU, the DA is committed to closely monitoring this process. We believe particular attention must be paid to the role that adverse weather conditions, pilot training, flight planning and aircraft condition may have played,' said Gokool. 'The findings of this investigation must inform immediate steps to strengthen aviation safety standards and ensure such tragedies are not repeated. 'As a nation, we must honour the memory of those lost by demanding accountability, learning from this incident, and by putting robust measures in place to protect all who take to our skies,' said Gokool. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
