Doubts and unanswered questions as FTLM appoint new contractor for Praktiseer Library

PRAKTISEER

Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality has on July 20, appointed yet another contractor to complete the Praktiseer Library. This is the second contractor appointed by the municipality to complete the same project.

The R16 million worth project was scheduled to be completed in 2024 but after the contractor vacated site, it remained abandoned for months.

With the new appointment, the question remains, “How much was paid to the contractor who did not complete the job, was it 100%?

Locals also questioned, if there would be penalties against the contractor and whether he was overpaid or underpaid?

 Responding to some queries at the event which was streamed on the municipal Facebook page, FTLM’s mayor Eddie Maila said the appointment of the new contractor follows the termination of the previous contract after ‘challenges were experienced during the implementation of the project.’

The mayor said the municipality has since taken the necessary steps to ensure that the project proceeds to completion.

He said under his administration, they were yet to fully pay a contractor for an unfinished project.

“The payments are aligned to progress on the ground, if 85% of the work is done, the payments will be on par with the work on the ground.”

This paper interviewed a few locals about the development in the Praktiseer area, Arnold Makofane said this was part of electioneering.

“We are unsure if this project will be completed, or the new contractor will run like the previous one. There was never updates when the project halted. We suspect the mayor and his team are only hear to lure voters for the upcoming elections.”

The Praktiseer project is not the only FTLM project in which a second contractor was appointed. The R34 Million worth Dresden Access Road Project also faced the same predicament.

Residents also alleged this is another modus operandi to misuse the tax payers’ money.

The FTLM said the Praktiseer Library project is expected to be completed within four months, after which the facility will be handed over to the community for use. Once completed, the library is expected to provide residents with access to books, digital resources and study facilities, while creating a welcoming space that promotes reading, education and lifelong learning.