Polokwane – Limpopo Roads and Transport MEC, Pinky Kekana, has warned contractors to provide quality service or face being blacklisted.
Kekana was speaking during a consultative meeting held in Polokwane on Wednesday. The meeting is part of the MEC’s ongoing interaction with roads and transport role players to ensure an effective, concerted and collective approach to better service delivery in provincial roads projects.
“We cannot have perennial underperformers in our system. We will be doing a great disservice to our people if we condone this,” said Kekana.
Penalty clauses would be used against contractors who fail to provide quality service or deliver projects within the stipulated timeframe.
“There are plenty of opportunities for contractors who have proven that they can deliver in the roads and transport industry. We cannot tolerate shoddy work,” said Kekana.
Departmental head Ntau Letebele echoed Kekana’s statements, saying that although the department was leading the way in terms of job creation, quality work was key to service delivery.
“The department has created 19 000 jobs in the first quarter of this financial year. We need to do much more, with better quality and at a quicker rate,” said Letebele.
He emphasised that this would not entail the exclusion of emerging contractors.
“We must look at innovative and alternative means, including public-private partnerships, to ensure speedy delivery of services,” he said.
Kekana further warned contractors that she would pay them surprise visits to personally monitor projects.
She also reiterated her call for people who have information about fraud and corruption to approach the department.
“We will not allow anyone to bring the department into disrepute. We have a zero tolerance towards fraud and corruption and I appeal to anyone who has information to come forward,” said Kekana. – Siphiwe Nyathi, BuaNews
