Several schools built with funds from Region Four have shown severe defects according to the Auditor General’s report for 2022 which was laid in the National Assembly on Monday.
The report said that a contract for construction of the Vryheid’s Lust South Nursery School was awarded on May 10, 2022 by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) in the sum of $31m.
The contract was signed on June 2nd 2022 with a start date of June 10, 2022 and a completion date of December 23, 2022. The full amount was paid to the contractor.
Physical verification on July 27, 2023 showed that the works were substantially completed but defective and poor quality works were in evidence.
Areas on the ceiling showed visible signs of moisture in the ceiling, there was “shoddy” painting and poor work around window sills prior to painting.
The head of the budget agency said that corrective works would be done.
The audit office recommended that the regional administration should carefully inspect all completed works and should not accept poor quality and sub-standard work.
Similarly, a contract for the construction of the Haslington Nursery School was awarded on May 10th 2022 by NPTAB in the sum of $26m. The contract was signed on June 2, 2022 with a commencement date of June 10, 2022 and a completion date of 23rd December, 2022. As at December 31st, 2022 the full amount had been paid to the contractor.
Physical verification on July 27, 2023 showed that works were substantially completed but there was poor-quality work.
Again, the ceiling showed signs of moisture, there was shoddy painting and poor work on the window sills.
A contract for the construction of a new wing at Diamond Secondary School was awarded by the NPTAB in the sum of $69.8m. The contract was sealed on June 2nd, 2022 with a start date of June 10, 2022 and completion date of November 20222. At December 31st, amounts totalling $62.8m had been paid to the contractor.
The report said that physical verification on July 28th, 2023 revealed that the works were incomplete and the contractor was not on site. It was observed that electrical, furnishing, plumbing and painting works were all incomplete. The contractual completion date was November 30, 2022. At July 28th, 2023, eight months beyond the date, the works remain incomplete and there has been no approved extension of time. The head of the budget agency said that works are currently ongoing. The Office of the Auditor General’s response was that the regional administration should ensure that all works are carefully inspected.
