NCOP calls on Gauteng govt to recoup public money from underperforming contractors

JOHANNESBURG - Members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) have called on the Gauteng government to recoup public money from underperforming contractors.

On Wednesday, NCOP members representing Gauteng visited three unfinished government projects on the West Rand.

They include the R11 billion Montrose Housing Project, the Bekkersdal Old Age Care Centre, and the Simunye High School.

In all three unfinished projects, representatives from the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements blamed the contractors for the delays.

All three projects have missed their completion deadlines and are on course to be way over budget.

Provincial delegate for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Naledi Chirwa said that it was not enough for government to just only terminate its agreement with the contractors.

“When you terminate the contract does the money come back, does the work then continue? It does not and you know this because it keeps happening year in and year out. It's not the only project where this is happening, there are hundreds of others across the province.”

Representatives from the Gauteng government said that all contracts had different terms and conditions when it came to underperformance.