Library contractors are years overdue
● A clash between a contractor and an architect has resulted in a five-year delay in the completion of a library worth R30m expected to benefit more than 10 schools in a poor rural community in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Now provincial arts & culture MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi has told the contractor and architect to finish the community library at Bilanyoni township in eDumbe municipality by the end of March, or their contract will be terminated.
The delay in the completion of the long-awaited library has been attributed to squabbling and a clash of egos between the contractor, QDS Projects, and the principal agent, Consult Three Architects, over a number of issues, including the service provider from which to purchase the building materials.
The library’s shell and infrastructure have been constructed but electrical work, fittings, painting and furnishings still need to be completed.
Sithole-Moloi’s spokesperson, Mack Makhathini, confirmed that the clash between the architect and contractor had stymied the project.
“The department has called a number of meetings to resolve this. This situation gets better [but] after some time it comes back again,” Makhathini said.
During a recent meeting with Sithole-Moloi, QDS Projects’ Quirin Sibuyi and Consult Three Architects’ Bandile Boyana blamed each other for the delay in the completion of the library.
Sibuyi confirmed that they did not have a good relationship with the principal agent.
“Their specialists require a lot of money. From what I know, the principal agent is there to monitor the quality of work we’re doing on site,” he said.
Boyana said there was a lack of understanding on the contractor’s part.
But both were scolded by Sithole-Moloi, who said nothing they said justified why the project was not complete.
“You’re given money and all the help you want, why are you not finishing the project? I give people the benefit of the doubt, but this thing of not trusting each other is the last thing.
“This project started in 2015 but it is not yet finished,” she said.
QDS Projects was appointed in January last year after the cancellation of the first contract awarded to Ziqoqe Construction in October 2014 because of its inability to deliver.
The second contractor, QDS, was expected to complete the library in August last year but requested an extension until December, citing problems including late delivery of material by suppliers, signing of cession documents, cash flow and appointment of a subcontractor.
After it failed to meet the December deadline, it requested another extension until the end of February, and then another extension until March 28, which incurred Sithole-Moloi’s wrath and resulted in her recent meeting with the contractor and architect.
Community leader Nathi Thwala and eDumbe mayor Majuba Mavuso said they had been very patient about the completion of the library despite the clash between the contractor and architect.