“They [contractors] fail the government department they work for and eventually the ANC,” said Free State ANC secretary William Bulwane at a party lekgotla in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
The four-day lekgotla received presentations from all government departments in the province and national departments with offices in its six big municipalities.
Bulwane said departments indicated that strong action was needed against contractors doing inferior work for government, which was reflecting badly on the state.
The ANC had seen bad workmanship on RDP houses in Sasolburg after strong winds hit the area, he said.
“RDP houses fall, while shacks next door stand.”
He also referred to a house-building project, which was stopped due to bad quality work in Ficksburg, for tornado victims.
Earlier, Free State government spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said a contract for some 70 houses for tornado victims in Ficksburg was terminated due to bad quality work.
He said a new contractor had been appointed and was preparing to go on site for the completion of all remaining houses.
Annoyance
Mvambi said that during a recent government executive meeting Free State premier Ace Magashule and MECs also expressed annoyance with inferior contract work for government.
It was decided that contractors who fail government would be removed from government contractors lists in future.
Bulwane said the lekgotla heard that government had done a lot in terms of service delivery.
“We must speak more on our successes. We all know that getting to a better life is a process.”
Bulwane said where problems such as sewerage spillage or potholes existed, government spheres had to solve problems.
Problems were encountered because huge influxes into towns had put infrastructure under pressure.
“We must reflect on how to work better with what is available in municipalities,” said Bulwane. – Sapa