STAKEHOLDERS, CONTRACTORS DELAY PROJECTS

Changing of the initial plans, taking longer to identify new ones, nonperforming and poor workmanship by some contractors and artisans have been indentified as key reasons delaying the completion of Community Constituency Projects.

Other reasons are lengthy and protracted consultation processes among stakeholders.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kgotla Autlweetse admitted in response to a parliamentary question that his ministry is aware of the “poor workmanship and project failures associated with the Community Constituency Projects (CCP)”.

Autlweetse was answering a question by Member of Parliament for Sefhare-Ramokgonami, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang who asked him if he is aware of poor workmanship and high project failure rate associated with Community Constituency Projects (CCPs),and if so to state the reasons for high project failure rates, whether he would consider outsourcing some of the services undertaken by district technical personnel to enhance supervision of projects with a view to reduce high project failure rate, if he would consider decentralising the functions of Ministerial Tender Committees (MTCs) to districts to fast track the implementation of CCPs, and what he is doing to rectify the problem and save government money.

Autlwetse said the ministry is aware of some instances of poor workmanship and project failures associated with Community Constituency Projects. He cited the main implementation challenges that led to some projects failing as lengthy and protracted consultation process by constituencies leading to delayed submission of Project Memoranda and later start of projects.

Others include change of projects by communities after project approval, delays caused by change of the initial project by the community and taking a longer time to identify new ones, appeal of tender awards by contractors, where some projects are appealed after award as well as non-performing and poor workmanship by some contractors and artisans.

Councils were instructed to engage Clerk of Works to assist with the workload, where the need arises. Autlwetse said all CCP projects are handled by Adjudication Committees and these structures operate at district level.

He said his ministry is working with different councils to develop catchup plans to ensure that all projects are completed within the current financial year. Autlweetse said that support visits to different councils is also ongoing purely to appreciate progress and address identified challenges and that continuous monitoring of projects by council personnel has also been emphasised to enable early detection of challenges and timely remedial action.