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MEC for Infrastructure Development in Gauteng Jacob Mamabolo has placed a contractor on terms, giving him seven days to state reasons why he should not be fired after delays in construction of Khutsong South Clinic in the West Rand.

Mamabolo today, 27 October, 2016 conducted a site inspection after an alarm was raised through the project monitor dash board in the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) project nerve centre, Lutsinga Infrastructure House. The system indicated that the project would run late by approximately 4 months as construction of the clinic was standing at 20% although the contractor was due to complete the works in December 2016.

“We have already issued two warning letters to this contractor, but still there is very little progress. We have no choice but to terminate their contract, this is completely unacceptable. But I have given him 7 days to explain why I should not terminate their contract,” Mamabolo told officials on site.

This is the second contractor to have its contract terminated due to poor performance. The first contractor, who was doing works at Suikerbos Nature Reserve, was terminated in July this year.

Construction of the clinic started on the 12th April 2016 with a total budget of R65 189 556.76. To date only R7 115 535.64 has been spent - constituting 10.9% of the overall project value with just more than a month of the original building time left.

Mamabolo also conducted a site visit of the Bonalesedi Nursing College’s new examination hall and the refurbishment of five (5) simulation wards. The site was handed over to the contractor on the 4th of September 2014 and was due to be completed on the 3rd of June 2015. After an extension of time was approved during construction, a new completion date was set for the 5th of April 2016. GDID was in the process of preparing to handover the building to the Department of Health but new structural cracks on the new Examination Hall were discovered.

Mamabolo has instructed the appointed engineers to conduct an investigation and prepare a report detailing the cause of the cracks and required remedial action. Both sites will be handed over in November.

Issued by Department of Infrastructure Development