This as irate Vuk'uphile sub-contractors hired by the Department of Public Works and Roads accuses Mkhwebane of backtracking from her alleged R4 million compensation payout.

They say the PP instead opted for them being given projects worth the same amount without receiving any form of payment from the Department after their legal battle of years.

Contractors have also accused Mkhwebane's compliant officer of failing to communicate with them by ignoring several enquiries over the settlement. Both the department and Office of the PP are yet to comment on these allegations.

The lawyers handling the contractors' case have also confirmed that indeed Mkhwebane's report is being challenged in court.

"We are currently struggling with the projects they are giving us since we don't have funding to properly execute them. Had they paid us ex gratia we would be in a better financial position to work on all projects given to us," the anonymous contractor says.

Another contractor tells OFM News that they were supposed to attend classes and get funding for the project but nothing is happening and there are contractors who are still owed for the preliminary and general costs since the remedial action.

"The Quantity Surveyor who was hired by the department made sure that most vocal contractors don't get any payments, we were systematically strangled," the contractor adds.

In July 2018, the PP handed down her judgment over the matter which started in 2014 after the department abruptly terminated the project.

Mkhwebane ordered the department to resuscitate the project to make the payment, if any, to contractors within 30 days.

The PP's office has been in and out of court with some of her reports being set aside. In June this year, the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed her application for leave to appeal a ruling on her Vrede Dairy Farm report in the Free State. This as the High Court in Pretoria last year declared the report unconstitutional and invalid.

OFM News