Incomplete Khutsong Clinic crumbles: Makhura could care less about the peoples’ money

The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with deep concern that there has still been no progress made on the completion of the new Khutsong clinic in Extension 2 on the West Rand.

In 2019, I visited this clinic and was told that the contractor had not been paid by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID). But according to GDID, the clinic was not completed because the contractor is experiencing financial difficulties.

Subsequently, I tabled further questions to the MEC for Infrastructure Development, Tasneem Motara, who indicated that this project will be completed by March 2020.

But as can be seen here here, here, here, here, here and here the clinic has still not been completed.

Furthermore, in her written reply, the MEC indicated that the contractor experienced serious cash flow problems after ordering equipment from a preliminary list for end users that was not approved by the Department of Health.

In addition, the local municipality had requested the department to conduct further studies which indicated that the land is dolomitic and that the original paving landscaping that was initially specified had to be canceled as per the recommendations of the feasibility studies.

If Premier David Makhura is serious about delivering services to the people of Gauteng, he would not allow his government to waste R53 129 024,65 of taxpayers’ money. A total of R65 189 559,65 was budgeted for the construction of the clinic.

Given, the current state of the clinic, it is clear that this budget will no longer be sufficient and that the residents of Gauteng will have to fork out more money to pay for the absence of expertise that GDID lacks to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.

As long as the management of this project flounders, the risk of deterioration of the clinic will continue to rise.

This incomplete project is not only hindering the delivery of health care services to the community but has also left a number of construction workers without jobs and money as they were laid off without being paid.

I will once again be submitting questions to the MEC for Infrastructure Development to ascertain if the current contractor is still going to be completing the project and when this clinic will finally be completed and opened to the public.

It is high time that Premier Makhura starts to ensure that consequence management takes place where MECs fail to ensure that their departments deliver on their mandate.