Lack of payment halts road construction
“Weeks went by with us reporting for duty with no communication from the employer as to what was happening."
Kwa-Thema – Construction of the last phase of the Joe Mzamani Road has been halted due to non-payment.
It is alleged the constructor didn’t return from their festive holidays, leaving employees confused as to whether or not they are still employed.
They didn’t receive their January salaries and in December some of them were paid half their salaries.
The 100-metre project was supposed to be completed in December but due to delayed payments and lack of material the completion has been delayed.
Employee Sibusiso Mashiane said nobody, including the ward councillor and community liaison officer (CLO), knows what is happening.
Also read: Construction at Mega City continues
“We don’t know whether we still have our jobs or not.
“We were told to return to work on January 5 and we later received information to only come back a week later.
“Upon our return the constructor and site managers were nowhere to be seen, only the CLO was present.
“Weeks went by with us reporting for duty with no communication from the employer as to what was happening.
“We didn’t even receive our payment for January,” he said.
Another aggrieved employee, Chimorenga Zikalala, said they knew there was something fishy going on when a sub-constructor company arrived to prime the road without their knowledge.
“We prevented them from working and they returned in January before we opened, but the ward councillor pleaded with us to allow them to work.
“We want our January salaries and outstanding money from the December salary.
“When we call the constructor our calls go unanswered, the onsite manager even told us he wasn’t paid so he doesn’t have money to come to site,” he said.
In his response, Ward 80 councillor Wilson Busakwe said he is not involved in the day-to-day running of projects in the community.
“I have appointed a CLO to be my eyes and ears at the site.
“I was not aware there were challenges until I was called on December 27 and informed the workers had stopped an appointed sub-constructor from priming the road.
“I was shocked that an external company was appointed to prime the road because from my understanding the job was set to be given to a local sub-constructor.
“I called the constructor who called off the company until we met to discuss the matter.
“In that meeting we agreed that since the sub-constructor was already appointed, the locals will be given the opportunity to mark the road.
“Upon the sub-constructor’s return in January, I was informed that the employees stopped the project again.
“I agreed to address them,” he said.
Busakwe explained he consulted with the employees, who shared their grievances, and he promised to find out what was happening.
“I reported to them that the constructor was not back onsite because he was not paid for January.
“They are still waiting for payment and only then will they resume work again,” he said.
Also read: Road construction in Reedville going strong
“We had a meeting with the MMC of Real Estate, Roads and Storm water, Enterprise Project Management, Cllr Masele Madihlaba who informed me that all the constructors who were not paid in December will be paid by Thursday.
“We are hoping the project will resume work next week”.
The African Reporter tried to get hold of the site manager but were unsuccessful.
Follow us on:
