The leader of the Mangaung Concerned Community (MCC), Themba Zweni, says he received information that the subcontractor has allegedly been threatened by employees at his private residence. They demanded their salaries which should have been paid in April. 

According to Zweni, the subcontractor has allegedly not received payment from the contractor since February. It is further alleged that some of the main contractors have unpaid invoices dating as back as August 2021. An enquiry has been sent to the Mangaung Metro Municipality about the allegations of not paying contractors.

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A section of Vereeniging Drive has been closed since last year for the construction of the bridge in the south. However, it seems reconstruction of it has been paused. Zweni alleges he has tried everything to get an answer from the metro concerning the workers' payments and when the road will be drivable. “Municipalities have to pay contractors within 30 days for their services. It does, however, not happen like that in this metro. It has become a trend that people have to wait for months for their payments,” said Zweni.  

OFM News previously reported that the road infrastructure within the Mangaung Metro Municipality will continue receiving much-needed attention following the national intervention. Some of the roads in the metro where maintenance is done include those in Vista Park, Ward 30 and 31 in Botshabelo, and ward 41 in Thaba Nchu. 

In a written question by a DA Member in the National Assembly, Werner Horn, to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, a progress report was requested since the decision to place Mangaung under administration was taken. The reply stated the current road infrastructure in the municipality is very poor, however, road maintenance is dependent on a fully functioning fleet department within the municipality, which is at the moment not operating at the very best level.    

OFM News