Promised hospital gets new lifeline
THE Gauteng government will need more than R500 million to complete the long-delayed Jabulani Hospital in Soweto.
This latest figure is R200 million over the initial cost of R335 million in 2006 - when the tender was awarded by the provincial department of roads and transport.
Construction at the hospital has been plagued by repeated stoppages because of shoddy work from contractors.
Maziya General Services, one of the companies that lost out to Illima Projects in 2006, has now been asked to come to the rescue and complete the project by December 2011.
Illima Projects, which is currently involved in litigation with the Gauteng infrastructure development department over more than R56 million paid to it, was awarded the tender in a joint venture with Yikusasa, TTR and Motheo Construction.
Illima acted as the lead contractor.
Three years ago the joint partners withdrew from the construction of the hospital, leaving Illima as the sole contractor.
This reportedly contributed to Illima's inability to deliver on the hospital project before its delivery date.
The company was again appointed contractor in 2008 but allegations of shoddy work resulted in the contract being cancelled.
"The matter between the department of infrastructure development and Ilima is with our legal division as there is a litigation process under way and therefore we cannot comment further," said department spokesperson Kabelo Thabethe.