Premier Mabuza demands substantiated evidence before
paying Rob Ferreira Hospital contractors
14 August 2013
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has demanded that the
consultants and the implementing agents involved in the renovation and
upgrading of the Nelspruit-based Rob Ferreira Hospital should re-submit all
tender documents to the office of his provincial director-general for
re-examining.
This is because of a long dispute which involves the
non-payment of a unauthorised variation of R12 million which the contractor
demands from the provincial government.
The contractor, Ruwon Construction, suspended work in
June last year [2012] due to non-payment for work done. The contractor was
even alleged to have locked the wards at the hospital in demand for his
payment. He dismissed the rumours saying the wards were not yet safe for
utilisation by the public.
At a special meeting today [Wednesday, 14 August 2013]
Premier Mabuza was told by the implementing agent, Independent Development
Trust, that the Phase 4D: work of upgrading a paediatric ward and other
three wards had been suspended due to non-payment of unauthorised variations
which were caused by under-measurements and mis-measurements on the bill of
quantities for construction.
Initially, the contract was at a value of R27 Million
when the site was handed over and construction commencing in March 2011. The
expenditure to date is at R34. 8 million due to unauthorised variations.
Work was expected to have been completed at the end of July last year [2012]
but was since been suspended in June 2012 at 83 percent completion.
The scope of work had also been reduced by excluding
the paediatric ward due to unavailability of funds. A request for additional
funds to cover the unauthorised variations and to complete the projects to
the value of R17 million was made and only R5 million was approved to date.
The difference was subject to further evaluation and approval by the
provincial Treasury as the total variation exceeds the 20 percent limit.
The Premier was however not satisfied with the
proposed solution in resolving the problem that the provincial Treasury
appoint an independent consultant to re-measure the work which was not
calculated in the initial tender to prove if indeed R12 million was still
outstanding. He said it would be fruitless expenditure.
“We need collaborating evidence that indeed the work was done before we pay. As we speak there is nothing to substantiate for the R12 million. My Office is going to step in; both the implementing agent and consultants should bring all the information to the office of the director-general.
“Appointing a new person will be a fruitless exercise; the director-general and her technical team will inform me about her findings in order for the executive council to make an informed decision. We must stop being naïve when each time we have a problem we opt to go outside, I cannot afford to pay twice,” said Mabuza.
The Premier demanded that the documents be submitted
in a week’s time citing that the work should be speedily completed in order
for the public to utilise the facilities.
“In the interest of the public out there, we must complete this work as soon as possible and we must account for every cent we use. I want proof that the work indeed escalated from the initial plans. We must work together and come closer to the solution for the sake of our people,” said Mabuza.
The Premier also lashed out at the department of
Public Works Roads and Transport for not having an internal capacity to
measure the outstanding work and confirm if it was worth R12 million. He
said they should have internal professionals and not rely mainly on
consultants as it was costly to the taxpayers.
Mabuza further said he was not satisfied with the
contractor’s attitude of abandoning the work instead
of approaching the client [government] for the solution.
“It is incorrect to abandon the site. If there are problems, we must be able to resolve them amicably because at the end of the day people out there would look at government as having not delivered the service. We have an employer-employee relationship here, these matters could have been resolved long time ago,” said Mabuza.
He added that the completed facilities should be
handed over to the public while resolving the differences.
Mabuza further visited both completed and uncompleted
wards inspecting the work done. He was however met by angry patients who
complained that they had been in the queue for a long time without being
attended to.
Issued by Zibonele Mncwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Tel: (013) 766 – 2453
Mobile: 079 491 0163