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South Africa: Pe Councillor for Housing Clarifies Media Report
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
16 May 2008
Posted to the web 16 May 2008
Michael Appel
Port Elizabeth
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Councillor for Housing and Land Eldridge Jerry says allegations contained in a recent media report around the awarding of certain contracts are false.
The article alleges that there are irregularities in the awarding of contracts within the housing and land portfolio of the municipality.
According to a response from the Nelson Mandela Metro, "the article alleges that the Roster Plan [used to determine which contractor will be used for which job] has failed and the tender system should be introduced.
"[Also that] contractors who requested an increase in the offered rate were told that the offer will be made to another contractor if they did not want to work."
Mr Jerry responded by saying he was appreciative of the fact that people have the right to air their views in public.
"It does, however, pain me to read how ill and misinformed some of us are about the process of identifying contractors on the roster.
"The truth is that when the Executive Mayor Councillor Nondumiso Maphazi appointed me to the Office of Housing and Land, my desk was littered with letter of complaints from contractors regarding the municipality's roster.
"Most of the complaints were that the process of identifying contractors was not transparent, that only certain contractors were getting jobs, [and] that the same contractors were appointed on more than one job at the same time," said the councillor.
To reverse some of the problems being experienced in the house contracting process, Mr Jerry held a series of meetings with all housing stakeholders including the South African Builders Association (SABA), the housing contractors and the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (NAFCOC).
"I intently listened to their issues and complaints about the housing situation in Nelson Mandela Bay.
"I committed myself to pay attention to these matters, and to develop a strategy and plan to address these issues.
"Accordingly, we have developed a new mechanism for the appointment of contractors from the roster.
"After finalising the new approach, I convened a report back meeting of all contractors, which was attended by more than 100 contractors, where we presented the new system.
"The only concern raised at the meeting was around the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) certification, and I took it upon myself to address the matter with the relevant authorities of NHBRC, and this was done," said the councillor.
Mr Jerry highlighted that there was no proof given that the roster system has failed, and that in fact, with the new system contractors can now be appointed within seven days, while the formal tender process takes at least 10 weeks.
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"In this way we are speeding up service delivery to the people," he said.
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