The government claims to promote small businesses yet it allows and promotes the oppression of these businesses by using the so-called implementing agents.

In most cases, there is absolutely no need to outsource the projects to these vultures, as some of them have no idea in the field of construction.

Government and municipalities could save money by employing a few qualified, full-time project managers in the same field to do exactly that job.

Project managers would be paid salaries, not high percentages of each and every project. Each project manager can be responsible for more than one project. Some of these implementing agents duplicate their responsibilities to make more money.

They are contracted to manage the project and appoint relevant professionals hence they are paid a fee which is a percentage of the project value. However, in some cases, instead of appointing contractors, they reappoint themselves as contractors so that they make more money at contractors' rates.

They then appoint sub-contractors at rates so low that at the end of the project those sub-contractors will have nothing to show for their hard work.

This is one of the reasons for poor workmanship, projects not completed on time and the end-product that does not match the initial project value.

As if that is not enough, the poor sub-contractors are supposed to procure and pay for materials, employ and pay labour and be on site all the time to deliver the project. I write about these issues from experience, being a victim.

Mbuyiseni Ka Sithebe

Leondale