07 Oct 2020

Contractual disputes delay development and deprive communities a better service, Mr Lefoko Moagi has said.

Mr Moagi who is Ramotswa MP and Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security expressed this during a meeting with South East South Sub-district Heads of Departments on Monday.

Mr Moagi said communities were often at the receiving end of the contract tussles between procuring entities and contractors, noting that his constituency has had numerous cases of contractual disputes which delayed projects commencement and  handing over.

Among the projects which are currently going through contractual disputes is the Boatle Water treatment plant and paving of some road in the constituency.

South East South Sub-district council, Senior Assistant Council Secretary (SACS), Mr Montshwari Gabonthone had informed the minister that some projects in the constituency had not yet started pending the determination of the appeals board.

He noted that the projects were paving of internal roads, saying some contractors had appealed the awarding of the projects which delayed commencement.

Furthermore, Mr Gabonthone told the meeting that the ongoing 2.8 kilometers storm water drainage project along A11 road was at 98 per cent completion.

He said the project could have been completed but the contractor experienced cash flow problems.

However, he was hopeful that the contractor would soon be able to complete the task, saying the sub-council had processed some of his payment.

The council secretary said the council was forced to do the storm water drainage project in pieces due to financial constraints.

Still regarding the constituency roads, Mr Gabonthone said they needed about 185 cubic of gravel to maintain the roads.

However, he said the council was fortunate as it had been granted surface rights to start mining gravel, which would go a long way in addressing roads status in the constituency.

During comments, Minister Moagi expressed reservation about the quality on the 2.8 kilometers storm water drainage projects hence he said there was need to engage more on the project. ENDS