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RAW DEAL: One of the construction workers at work at Seshego Hostel in Limpopo. The workers say contractor Steve Bosch has not paid them since May and often fails to pay them their monthly salaries. PHOTO: MOYAHABO MABEBA

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Scores of protesters picketed Steve Bosch's Sizani Build IT hardware at Ladana on the outskirts of Polokwane on Friday, demanding their long-overdue payments.

They claim they have worked for Raesetja Property Developers - trading as Sizani Build It - building RDP houses at Nobody village in the Mankweng area, but have not received their salaries since May.

One of the protesters, who spoke to Sowetan anonymously for fear of reprisals, said he recently could not bury his child because of he was penniless.

The frustrated man said: "He always promises to pay us, but on payday he will simply not pitch up."

On May 2, Bosch served Johnson Mathete with a notice of retrenchment at Sizani Build IT hardware.

Mathete, who was working as a mechanic, said he was fired for demanding his money.

In a letter to Mathete dated May 12, Bosch wrote: "It is with great regret that we have to issue you with this letter today, but after an extensive consultation and serious financial assessment, we have no other option but to issue you with this notice of retrenchment."

Mathete, who was dismissed with other workers, has since taken the matter to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

One of Bosch's subcontractors, Emmanuel Nare of Emmanuel Roof Construction, says Bosch often fails to pay his subcontractors or pays them later than expected.

Bosch has also fired his brother, Tebogo, who was a foreman, and a storewoman, Linah Phoshoko, Nare said.

The two have also taken the contractor to the CCMA but, according to them, Bosch has never attended a hearing.

Bosch was awarded a lucrative tender by the provincial department of cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs to build 189 residential units at Seshego Hostel in 2010 for R41383115.60.

The 12-month project should have been completed on April 6 last year but, despite the contractor's failure to meet his deadline, he got a variation order amounting to R11655217.38, bringing the revised contract value to R53038332.38.

Over the past two financial years, the company has been awarded contracts of more than R100-million by the department, despite hundreds of abandoned RDP houses that cannot be fixed due to shoddy workmanship.

For several weeks, Bosch has failed to respond to requests for comment by e-mail or SMS.

Comments

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Sun May 19 08:51:04 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 6, 2012

LBS

THIS is the ANC and their pals working "For a better life for all" - scumbags!
The connected get more wealthy and the workers have to beg for money owed to them!
Disgusting shame!!
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Aug 6, 2012

MommaC

Does anything work properly in Limpopo?
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Aug 6, 2012

LBS

@MommaC
Does anything work properly in Limpopo?

-----------------------------

Self enrichment seems to thrive there! :(
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Aug 6, 2012

Mbeki_2

Viva ANC Viva! Yep, the true believers will just keep condemning themselves to misery. You go ANC voters !!
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Aug 6, 2012

Kgaoza606

And I hear friends of Juju and Premier Mathale are no longer driving GTIs and BMW 3 serieses, they rock up in Range Rovers le di X6, and u wonder why after getting millions in tenders but they can't pay their employess. Government bust just phase out this tender system, coz clearly its not working. And I'm sure there's a lot of them all over the country who no longer aspire to be educated coz their uncles and friends work in government procurement departments. Where are we going as a country mara???
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Aug 6, 2012

MoNati

That's not the whole story.

"Bosch is allegedly a benefactor of expelled African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema and is believed to have business ties with Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale.

Bosch also allegedly has ties with Limpopo's co-operative governance MEC Clifford Motsepe and Limpopo ANC secretary Soviet Lekganyane".

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Aug 6, 2012

mathopeed

Isn't this Bosch Corrupt company got everything to do with Bo JUJU and other ANC gutu's?
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Aug 6, 2012

eisleben

I worked for this JSE listed outfit a while ago. They deliberately forgot to pay me at the usual date. It was only for a day but I felt like strangling a zomboid. If I could not go on for more than a day after the promised pay date, how about a lowly paid contruction worker who has not received his promised pay cheque since May? Shame.
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Aug 6, 2012

cornelius

Can any ANCYL member or supporter please answer this question : ARE YOU ALL SO STUPID THAT YOU CANNOT SEE THAT YOUR IDOL MALEMA AND HIS CRONIES, INCLUDING BOSCH AND MATHALE ARE CORRUPT ????
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Aug 6, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Why is that these guys when they get tenders they no longer keep their eyes on the ball a VO of 11m for 189 houses contract what the fk?????? How can you approve a VO like that and still the ps of sh1t does not finish the Job someone must have had the hand on approval of this VO, this is full blown theft!!!!!
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