A sub-contract to build a R20-million police station in Mpumalanga, awarded to billionaire businessman Roux Shabangu, was apparently scrapped by the government because of allegedly shoddy workmanship and a failure to pay suppliers.
Roux Property Development Africa was apparently sacked in August last year while working on the Tweefontein Police Station in KwaMhlanga, north-east of Pretoria.
The unfinished police station stands empty, guarded by security personnel.
Just a few months after the contract was cancelled, the government went ahead with a deal to lease new headquarters for the police in Tshwane and Durban from Shanbangu. The lease deal is reportedly worth R500-million.
An investigation into this deal has been conducted and a report is due to be released at the end of this month outlining the findings of this investigation.
Jabulani Sikhakhane, spokesman for the Department of Finance says that companies that failed to honour a government contract were precluded from doing business with any government department for up to 10 years.
Strict tender regulations require that the accounting officers check the national Treasury’s database to see if any of company – or people employed or associated with that company – are prohibited from doing business with the public sector.
The R20-million tender for the police station was awarded to TTR General Building Contractors, which allegedly hired Roux Property Development Africa to do the work.
Shanbangu claims the project was halted because his company was owed money by the government.
Frustrated suppliers, sub-contractors and workers at the Tweefontein site accused Shanbangu’s company of:
- Failing to register workers with the Department of Labour or provider workers’ compensation;
- Not implementing minimum safe standards on site;
- Using sanitary fittings and drainage components that did not meet the specifications;
- Building toilets for the disabled that were incorrectly laid out, had fittings in the wrong place and doors that do not fit;
- Ceilings not being level in at least one block.
Readers' Comments Have a comment about this article? Email us now.
Print
