Sub-contractors have left the site of the Kimberley Nursing College student accommodation residence, which is under construction next to the Kimberley Mental Health Hospital, due to non-payment.
SUB-CONTRACTORS have left the site of the Kimberley Nursing College student accommodation residence, which is under construction next to the Kimberley Mental Health Hospital, due to non-payment.
All sub-contractors had vacated the premises on Thursday, after receiving instructions to remove their scaffolding and building materials.
“No payment has been forthcoming for the past four months. The contractor is owed millions of rand, if you take the earthworks and electrical jobs into account. Some of the sub-contractors come from Johannesburg and will not be returning because they have not been paid,” they said.
They added that the project was supposed to be completed within two to three months but has been dragging on for two years.
“It appears to be a repeat of the Kimberley Mental Health Hospital that cost the Province billions of rand, took several years to complete, while contractors are still waiting for outstanding payments.”
It was reported that there were about 200 workers on site, who were now left destitute.
“Workers are angry and are preparing for industrial action. Companies hired to work on the project had to retrench workers because of non-payment and have had to purchase building materials with their own funds to meet deadlines. A letter was issued where a commitment was made to settle outstanding debts by January 31. This date has come and gone and still no payment has been made.”
The sub-contractors stated that their invoices were submitted in time.
“Some of us have been on the site for the past seven months, where payment was only received for the first three months.”
They added that the first batch of student nurses was supposed to move into the one block on February 1.
“However, it is not possible as the project is only about 50 percent complete. There are eight blocks of flats under construction.
“The tender had to be re-advertised as the first contractor left the site as payment was not made.”
In 2017 the Department of Roads and Public Works stated that the residence would accommodate 350 students, where the project came at a cost of R161 million.
Another tender was advertised in 2019 for the completion of the project.
The contractor, Gobeng Consulting, referred enquiries to the Department of Roads and Public Works.
The spokesperson for the Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works, Crystal Robertson, stated that the department was only responsible for conducting an assessment of the quality of the work performed by the contractor.
“Thereafter, the payment is certified and sent to the Department of Health. The Department of Health is responsible for directing payments to the contractor.”
Meanwhile, it was reported that surgeries at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital had to be cancelled this week as the lifts were not functioning and patients could not be wheeled between theatre and back to their wards.
It was indicated that two of the lifts had broken down six years ago and apparently no attempt was made to fix them.
Hospital staff indicated that the only remaining lift that was working had also malfunctioned on Tuesday.
“The last remaining lift that was working broke, where surgeries had to be cancelled due to the non-functioning lift, a shortage of scrub nurses in theatre, while orthopaedic surgeries had to be cancelled as there was no power in the building.
“The maintenance contract for the lifts were said to have been handed over to a company that is not able to service the lifts.”
It was reported that one of the lifts was operational on Wednesday.
The Department of Health confirmed receipt of media enquiries but did not respond by the time of publication.
