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News
A
lmost R1 billion is due to con-
tractors by provinces and mu-
nicipalities and Sisulu expects
the undisputed invoices to be
paid within seven days.
She convened the
urgent meeting follow-
ing a national analysis
of all unpaid projects
and invoices as reflected
in the payment systems,
which found that more than
R1 billion had not been paid to
contractors, in respect of invoices
submitted for payment.
Sisulu told the Human Settle-
ments Consultative Conference
that she would meet the Minister of
Finance, Pravin Gordhan to request
that relevant measures be put in
place to ensure that the National
Sisulu warns municipalities to pay
TheMinister of Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu and provincial MECs of Human
Settlements recently met with more than 500 contractors and developers
to discuss how to resolve and pay all due and payable invoices.
Department is
able to address
payment of backlogs due and
payable to contractors within seven
days. “The legislation stipulates that
any person or company that does
business with government should be
paid within 30 days,” added Sisulu.
The Minister also indicated that
her Department would, after the
State of the Nation Address, establish
an Ombudsman Office to deal with
issues
o f con f l i c t
between contractors,
provinces and municipali-
ties. “With the Ombudsman Office,
we will be setting up a structure
that will mediate and work with all
stakeholders to resolve disputes
and cut through red tape in the best
interests of the human settlements
sector,” said Sisulu. Contractors are
an integral part of the human settle-
ments supply chain and Sisulu is
determined to solve payment chal-
lenges. She said, “Contractors help
us to restore the dignity of our people
and to provide an environment that
assists themto performat their best.”