22 Jun 2020

 The Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development is disturbed about the newly developing trend whereby foreigners masqueraded as locals in order to win government tenders.

Speaking during a visit to Matsha Community College recently, the minister, Mr Mmusi Kgafela said his ministry was committed to uprooting corruption by investigating such contractors.

The perpetrators would face serious consequences or even being blacklisted, he warned.

Minister Kgafela further emphasised that locals found to be involved in such scams would face the full wrath of the law.

 He called for comprehensive scrutinising of tendering evaluation processes and thorough background checks on contractors to avoid awarding tenders to fraudsters.

 About the college itself, he said though the tender to refurbish  its kitchen, gutted by fire in 2016, had been awarded, work remained unfinished.

Minister Kgafela said his Ministry of Basic Education colleague Mr Fidelis Molao had called for investigations to be conducted into delays in completing the project.

Nothing had been done to fix the roofing that was condemned by inspectors, he lamented.

He noted with concern that the contractor abandoned the project supposed to have been completed last year.

The alleged poor workmanship, he said, might be due to reports that work had been exchanged between 15 sub-contractors, failure to pay sub-contractors and labourers, issues he condemned.

Mr Kgafela therefore encouraged contractors to ensure that they completed projects on time and within budget so as to avoid depleting government coffers.ends