Government contractors in Limpopo are hopeful that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s upcoming budget will prioritise infrastructure development. This follows ongoing complaints from small businesses over delayed payments and slow project implementation.

The Forum of Limpopo Entrepreneurs, which represents small businesses in the province, has called for a detailed plan from the Minister to speed up infrastructure development.

The forum says delayed payments from the provincial government continue to stall infrastructure projects that could create jobs in local communities.

Contractor Zachariah Sekgopa says, “Specifically, to me as a contractor, I would like the Minister to touch on the infrastructure, roads, and water. The reason is that if he can allocate more budget on infrastructure, there will be more job creation when the contractors are busy working on the building of the infrastructure.”

Godongwana ready to deliver revised budget:

Delivery

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has acknowledged the concerns raised and says that some contractors must be held accountable for failing to complete government projects.

“The focus this time will be on the public sector infrastructure. We need our implementing agencies – your DBSA, your IDT and all that – but also the major role players, the very same SMMEs that are complaining that we take forever to pay them. But they also need to come, we need the profession itself.”

The provincial government says it will also work on improving the screening of potential contractors during the procurement process to ensure that companies contracted for infrastructure delivery are properly qualified.

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