Mbombela — Permanent delegates from Mpumalanga to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) have urged that contractors who fail to complete municipal infrastructure projects be blacklisted by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIBD) after oversight visits exposed repeated delays in Thaba Chweu Local Municipality.
Delegation finds mixed progress on two projects
During follow-up visits conducted as part of the NCOP’s Provincial Week, delegates inspected the Mashishing Waste Water Treatment Plant and a sewer line project in Thaba Chweu. The inspection was intended to assess progress on projects first reviewed in 2024.
According to a Parliament media statement, the Mashishing plant was around 40% complete in 2024 but has since been finished after the provincial government terminated the original contractor. By contrast, work on the sewer line showed no progress since 2024, with the contractor accused of disappearing from the site and returning sporadically without adequate explanation.
"We welcome the fact that there has been progress at the waste water treatment plant and it is now in operation. However, at the sewer line we all witnessed with the contractor and the department that nothing has happened since 2024. The department must come up with a plan to make sure this work is completed by the end of the year," said Ms Sylvia Nxumalo, leader of the Mpumalanga NCOP delegation.
Delegates press for stronger sanctions
Delegates told Parliament they welcomed provincial decisions to terminate contracts where contractors had failed to deliver. However, they argued termination alone is insufficient and recommended registering stronger sanctions — specifically blacklisting through the CIBD — so contractors who have displayed poor workmanship or financial mismanagement cannot secure other public projects.
The delegation also heard the contractor on the sewer line attribute delays to geotechnical challenges, citing discovery of hard rock and underground water during excavation. Delegates urged the department to follow applicable rules and legislation that guide remedies when a contractor does not complete work.
Local impact and next steps
Delays in sewage and wastewater infrastructure have direct consequences for residents and local economic activity. The NCOP delegation called on the provincial department to present a clear plan to complete the sewer line by the end of the year, and to pursue administrative and regulatory measures against contractors who jeopardise service delivery.
- Completed after termination: Mashishing Waste Water Treatment Plant — previously ~40% complete in 2024, now in operation.
- Stalled since 2024: Sewer line in Thaba Chweu — contractor frequently absent, work not progressed.
- Delegation demand: Use of CIBD blacklisting and adherence to legislative remedies when contractors fail to deliver.
Project status at a glance
| Project | Status in 2024 | Current status (as reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Mashishing Waste Water Treatment Plant | ~40% complete | Completed and in operation |
| Sewer line, Thaba Chweu | Under construction | No work evident since 2024; contractor irregularly present |
Delegates called for departments to rigorously apply procurement and contract management rules, and to pursue blacklisting where evidence points to mismanagement of funds, poor workmanship or abandonment of sites. The NCOP said such steps are necessary to prevent repeat offences that undermine public infrastructure programmes across the province.
The Parliament media statement did not provide a detailed timetable for completion of the sewer line or name the contractors involved. The matter now rests with provincial officials and the Thaba Chweu municipality to set out a remedial plan and any disciplinary or regulatory action.
Clearer reporting, robust contract management and timely sanctions remain central to restoring confidence that municipal infrastructure investments will translate into reliable services for communities in Mpumalanga.
