Riot Hlatshwayo

Riot Hlatshwayo

Contractors in Marite, Mpumalanga, are furious that a Polokwane company has been given the job of erecting the fences for the new regional offices of the Bushbuckridge municipality .

"The tender was not advertised and the tender document was not made available," said the contractors' spokesman, David Shongwe.

He said the contractors were concerned that none of the employees of the Polokwane company were locals.

"Locals were supposed to be given an opportunity to help erect the fence, even if the contractor wasn't a local. That is job creation," said Shongwe.

The sub-contractor, Ludwick Marutha, told Sowetan that the main contractor, Matome Mabotlela, had offered him the job.

Mabotlela confirmed he was a consultant and a contractor, and acknowledged that this resulted in a conflict of interests.

"This is how things are done here. The municipality awarded me the tender," said Mabotlela.

Bushbuckridge spokesman, Zondi Mkhabela, said he would investigate the situation.