A group of people from Sekhukhune District picketed outside Road Agency Limpopo (Ral) headquarters on Monday claiming that a contractor appointed to upgrade the D4311 road was retrenching workers due to the agency’s alleged failure to pay the service provider.
A protester who requested to remain anonymous claimed that Ral owed the contractor about R31 million resulting in forced retrenching people to cut costs. Leaders of the protesters could not provide information on Monday as they indicated that they wanted to meet with Ral managers first to try and resolve the issue around the table.
When contacted on Tuesday a leader who had undertaken to provide information about the meeting with Ral claimed that the entity promised to pay the contractor by or before the end of the month. He said it was not clear if the contractor would reappoint the retrenched staff nor could he confirm the number of people affected. The person did not want to comment any further as he indicated that they have agreed to give Ral until the end of October before taking any further steps which include exposing the entity.
Ral Spokesperson Maropeng Manyathela could not be reached for comment by the time of going to print as his cell phone rang unanswered.
Story & photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
