POOR planning and shoddy workmanship contributed to the people of Hankey not benefiting from a R165,4 million government project, which was supposed to create much needed job opportunities.
The completion of the Sarah Baartman Remembrance Centre, of which construction started in April 2014, has yet again been delayed. With the project completed between 60% and 70%, the new completion date is set for May 2019.
The original date of completion was set for October 2016.
Malcolm Figg, Tsitsi-Kouga Constituency Leader, says, “The original contractor ran into money problems and ceded the project to another contractor in October 2017. Unrest due to workers not being paid by the first contractor caused numerous delays in the past.
“Shoddy workmanship and the ceding of the contract will now lead to a budget increase. At this stage quantity surveyors are still calculating how many more millions will be poured into this debacle.”
Figg says that during an oversight meeting on Tuesday, there was little evidence of a project warranting the spending of R165 million. He is also sceptical of the alleged job opportunities this project is to create.
“The Department of Arts and Culture stated that during the construction phase 1 000 jobs would be created and after completion 34 people would be permanently employed. On Tuesday only 110 people were actively working on site.
“The ANC government is failing the impo-verished and unemployed people of Hankey.”
Kouga Mayor Horatio Hendricks says, “We are grateful that the Department of Public Works has appointed a new contractor.
“Although it is a national project and the municipality was not responsible for the appointment of the contractor, we had to jump in to help sort out the many disputes between the previous contractor and workers.
“The Centre is of great importance to us, as it will enable us to offer even more to visitors and grow our tourism industry.”
