Millions claimed in Tshwane City Hall row

THE company accused of poor workmanship on a project to revamp the City Hall has claimed the Tshwane Municipality owes it R4.9 million.

In October 2013, under the previous ANC-led city government, Bahlaping Investments Holdings was appointed to undertake renovations to the City Hall, estimated to cost R90m.

It started work in February 2014, but while the contract was being done, it was accused of poor workmanship.

The former municipal administration asked the company to rectify “defective and substandard work” on the municipal property.

At the time there were claims contractors had caused damage to the historic organ in the city hall when scaffolding being used by painters fell on its pipes, and it would have to be sent overseas where it would cost R18m to repair.

However, when it could not comply with the city’s request, its contract was cancelled, according to court papers in which the company claims it is owed money.

The company disputed the city’s version that it had been notified about problems, saying the defendant (the city) “simply tried to avoid liability for work done”.

Its court bid was launched amid allegations that millions of rand in taxpayers’ money had been squandered on the project, one of those described by the opposition DA, which now controls the city, as a “glory project” for the former mayor, who had indicated his intention to move into offices at the City Hall.

The court papers, which Cape Times sister paper the Pretoria News has seen, show that Bahlaping was engaged for work including plastering, plumbing and drainage, flooring, painting and glazing, mechanical works and water and fire services.

It also had been contracted to provide covered executive parking, an entrance and bulletproof glass. Installing the bulletproof glass, ridiculed by mayor Solly Msimanga during a visit to the property last year, came at a cost of R2.4m.

Msimanga had raised concerns about poor workmanship done on the historic building, as well as the astronomical budget attached to it. He said the contractor had fleeced the city.

He hired investigators to probe allegations of corruption. Although he was unaware of the legal action undertaken by the construction company, he welcomed it, saying it would begin to reveal evidence on how city money was spent.Lawyers for Bahlaping were not available to comment.