Noordgesig SMMEs picket over ‘corruption’ in the tender process at Noordgesig Primary School
They complained that people who live in the ward do not benefit while other wards are benefiting and alluded to corruption in the process, saying that envelopes were given out to certain people. The protesters outlined issues such as Skills Transfer, Youth Empowerment, agreed rates for labourers, SMME mentoring and much more.
The Noordgesig Primary School project closed after Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) representatives from Ward 29 picketed outside the school gates on January 7.
Abdul Naude who is one of the SMMEs said since 2017 they have been questioning the manner in which the tender was awarded to the main contractor, alleging that was never any consultation from the beginning.
Naude said they have sent letters to the regional directors and even spoke to the councillor but they believe all their hard work fell on deaf ears. he said they even signed a petition which was adopted by the petition board but they have not received any response.
They complained that people who live in the ward do not benefit while other wards are benefiting and alluded to corruption in the process, saying that envelopes were given out to certain people. The protesters outlined issues such as Skills Transfer, Youth Empowerment, agreed rates for labourers, SMME mentoring and much more.
The Chief Leasing Officer, Raven Martin said they have called a meeting with the Department of Infrastructure Development (DID). Derick van Rooyen said the group of protesters did not discuss anything with any of the
SMME’s who are on the site.
“If these guys can’t work, it means they will not get paid and will not be able to provide food for their children,” said van Rooyen.
Naude added that they will not stop protesting until the MEC of education and whoever is responsible for DID came to address their grievances. He said not that they don’t want development to happen but they want transparency.
A local who was on the site during the interview said what happened is uncalled for because they are looking towards the reopening of the school. He said people who have problems should sit with the main contractor
and not stop the project because the children should be moved back to their school by June this year.
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