MyCiTi depot construction workers down tools

• Published date: 08 June 2023
• Author: Siyavuya Khaya siyavuya.khaya@acm.co.za
• Publication title: Vukani

The contractors claim that they are not being paid rates from this current financial year by H&I Construction, which won the tender to build the depot. They claimed that H&I uses 2018 rates to pay them

Some also claim that when they receive payment it is not in full and they cannot pay their workers and when they raise these issues with the project manager of H&I Construction, they get no answers.

When Vukani visited the site on Friday June 2, sub-contractors and community leaders stood outside while law enforcement officers kept a sharp eye on them.

Ward 99 South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) secretary, Sonnia Tyilaphi, said for about three months, workers and sub-contractors have not received their full payment from H&I Construction.

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Ms Tyilaphi said as a result these companies then informed community structures about their plight and stated that they could not even cover their operating costs.

Ms Tyilaphi said they want the City of Cape Town officials to resolve the matter.

“We have written a letter to the sub-council and ward councillor raising these challenges.

‘’The companies which are working are people from their own communities therefore we cannot keep quiet while they are being victimised. We want to ensure that this project is completed and we agreed that this project should go ahead. We did that because we want to see development in our communities.

“But we cannot allow big companies to abuse our people. We have taken a decision to follow due processes because we do not want to see this project being vandalised and so on,” she said.

Ms Tyilaphi said they were hoping that an amicable solution could be found immediately. “Our hope is to see this project being completed without any challenges.”

One of the sub-contractors who did not want to be named said it had been about six months since they had not been getting full payment and this created conflict between them and workers.

He said they are aware that the City has provided enough money for this project, but the problem lies with H&I Construction.

He said at some point some of these companies could not even pay their workers, including him.

He said if H&I Construction cannot do business properly or is undermining them because they are black sub-contractors then this tender must be taken away from them and given to a company which knows how to conduct its business.

H&I Construction referred queries to the City of Cape Town.

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