Subcontractor blocks nurses accommodation site
A SUBCONTRACTOR blocked the entrance of a construction site, where accommodation for nurses is being built, due to non-payment for almost a year.
Progress on site has been staggered and no work has taken place for several months as subcontractors have not been paid.
The subcontractor stated that after Gobeng Construction left the site and Rubicon Construction took over, subcontractors were promised payment on September 2.
“I decided to park my car at the entrance this week in an attempt to get them to pay me. They owe me R248 000 just to resume work and we can discuss the remaining balance at a later stage. It has been seven months since the site has been shut down while the last payment was made in September 2021.”
He added that after he had blocked the entrance with his vehicle, Rubicon Construction had promised to pay the subcontractors within the next 10 days, provided that it (Rubicon) receives payment from the Department of Roads and Public Works.
The cost of completing the project has been reported to have drastically increased.
Department of Roads and Public Works spokesperson Crystal Robertson indicated that they, along with the Department of Health, would issue a joint statement “in due course”.
Questions sent to the department include why the contract with Gobeng Construction was terminated, when will work resume on site, how far the project is from completion and how much it will cost to finish the project.
It is not known whether Rubicon Construction has taken over all the liabilities of the previous contractor.