Water project workers down tools due to non-payment
Construction workers at the bulk water project in Tshimbupfe in the Vuwani area downed tools last week.
LIMPOPO – Workers claim that Ngungwa Construction Company, which is constructing a pumpstation and pipelines to Tshimbupfe, failed to pay them for the last three months and their sub-contractors, for the last seven months.
Tshimbupfe and surrounding villages within Vhembe are experiencing continuous water shortages, and also formed part of the Vuwani demarcation protests three years ago that left more than 30 schools destroyed as residents vented their anger.
“Workers have not received payment for work they did since September. We were promised two payments in October, but got nothing.”
One of the employees, Suzan Sikhwari, said that it was a bitter pill to swallow when she discovered she had not been paid.
“I then checked with my colleagues, only to realise that none of us had been paid. We had to borrow money now those people want their money.”
She said the Vhembe Municipality should account, “but no one wants to give us answers”.
The site manager who represents the company, Ronewa Nekhubvi told CV that the workers had been paid at the weekend, and that he didn’t know why they were not returning to work or why the gates had been locked.
“The owner of the company is the one who will answer the many questions,” he said.
Vhembe District Municipality’s Matodzi Ralushai said that it was the responsibility of contractors to pay workers on time, but that the contract had been terminated due to shoddy workmanship.
“We apologise to workers who didn’t receive their payment. We have terminated the contract and will appoint another company.”
