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Contractor locks wards over R12m bill

Mbombela - Bureaucratic bungling and unauthorised changes to work done are the reasons patients are sleeping in freezing corridors and overcrowded wards at one of Mpumalanga's biggest hospitals.

Even patients with contagious Xtreme Drug Resistant TB are sharing wards with uninfected patients.

The situation at Rob Ferreira Hospital led to premier David Mabuza calling an urgent meeting with MECs in various departments including health and social development, public works, roads and transport and finance.

It also included the consultants and contractor Gavin Davids of Ruwacon Group.

"Mabuza has demanded that the consultants and the implementing agents involved in the renovation and upgrading of the hospital re-submit all tender documents to the office of his provincial director-general for re-examining," said Mabuza's spokesperson Zibonele Mncwango.

"This is because of a long dispute which involves the non-payment of an unauthorised variation of R12m which the contractor demands from the provincial government."

Mncwango's press release came after African Eye News Service sent questions regarding conditions at the hospital following information that the contractor had locked the renovated wards pending receipt of his money.

Lock down

“Male and female medical wards 6, 7 and 8 were locked by the contractor, this is the reason patients slept in the corridors last week," said a source at the hospital.

"Even as I am speaking to you now, the wards are still not opened and patients are kept under inhumane and crowded conditions in Ward 2 and one of the halls."

The source said the lack of space compromised privacy as females and males are sharing a ward.

"People die in front of each other and some patients get traumatised when the undertakers pick-up the dead. It is a disaster working here, you should come during visiting hours and see for yourself,” the source said.

Mncwango said the premier was unhappy with the situation.

“The premier also lashed out at his public works department for not having internal capacity to measure the outstanding work and at the contractor for his attitude of abandoning the work instead of approaching the client [government] for the solution,” said Mncwango.

Mncwango also confirmed allegations that the contractor locked the wards at the hospital in demand of payment.

Not yet safe for utilisation

“The contractor was even alleged to have locked the wards at the hospital in demand for his payment. He dismissed the rumours saying the wards were not yet safe for utilisation by the public," he said.

According to the Premier's Office, the contract was initially valued at R27m when the site was handed over and construction commenced in March 2011.

"The expenditure to date is at R34.8m due to the unauthorised variations. Work was expected to have been completed at the end of July last year, but has since been suspended in June 2012 at 83% completion,” added Mncwango.

Ruwacon Group's managing director Davids confirmed that he suspended work at the hospital for non-payment, but failed to respond to detailed questions sent to him on.

Premier Mabuza said he needed collaborating evidence that indeed the work was done before funds can be released.

The premier also rejected a proposition that the provincial treasury appoint an independent consultant to re-measure the work which was not calculated in the initial tender to prove that R12m is still outstanding.

“As we speak, there is nothing to substantiate for the R12m. My office is going to step in... Appointing a new person will be a fruitless exercise; the director-general and her technical team will inform me about her findings in order for the executive council to make an informed decision," said Mabuza.

 - African Eye News Service

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