Frank Maponya

A Limpopo contractor is at loggerheads with provincial legislature speaker Tshenuwani Farisani for failing to pay him for work done.

The managing director of Uptown Trading, Joe Matshana, was awarded a contract to install and equip the boreholes at Farisani's farm near Nandoni Dam in October last year .

He said it took him a month to complete the job but the R408000 payment has not been forthcoming.

"When I submitted an invoice and a report in November I was told payment would be made within a week," said Matshana yesterday.

He said the total amount included R20000 for a surveyor, equipping of the farm, installing boreholes, tanks, tank stands and pipes.

Sowetan is also in possession of a letter signed by Farisani, in which he asks public works MEC Machwene Semenya to approve payment of R100000 for his private residence at Mulendzhe.

Farisani stated in his letter that he had engaged a service provider (Uptown Trading) in line with the assessment report undertaken and would like to "proceed with payments of work already done and further pay for other effects to be completed".

The Public works department has confirmed having paid the R100000 into Farisani's bank account but Matshana said he still had not seen a cent.

Farisani yesterday promised to call Sowetan after 30 minutes as he was apparently in a meeting, but had not done so at the time of going to press.