Residents of some of Knysna’s oldest informal settlements have become the unintended victims of disgruntled emerging contractors.

According to the municipality a small group of emerging contractors are aggrieved that they were not successful in their bid to undertake the current development phase in Oupad for the installation of foundations.

The group has informed the on-site contractor, Benver Construction, and the Knysna Municipality that they will not allow any development to continue until their grievances are resolved.

“This amounts to intimidation and harassment. But more importantly it is playing with people’s lives.

There are elderly, women and children who are the innocent victims of this illegal action and Council will not stand by and do nothing,” said the Executive Mayor, Georlene Wolmarans.

A programme of interventions

The Acting Municipal Manager, Grant Easton, confirmed that all work had been stopped. “The Municipality is not unsympathetic to the challenges facing the protesting contractors.

In order to try and meet their concerns, as well as promote the economic development of our town, we have engaged regularly with them regarding the drafting of a program of interventions to develop emerging contractors.”

“This program includes a multi-year program to build and develop the small contractors; access to the political leadership; regular meetings with all of the Senior Management of the Municipality; training and capacity building initiatives; engagements with procurement and construction experts; and the preidentification of small and large projects that will be prioritised for the emerging contractors.

Of great importance are the discussions between the Municipality and the Construction Industry Development Board.

“Currently the protesting contractors are not allowed to undertake the work for which they bid. Legally only those contractors with a CIDB level 6 grading may do the work required in Oupad. The disaffected contractors are only CIDB level 1.

“It would be illegal and ill-considered to award a tender such as the one in Oupad, toappoint non-compliant contractors as ultimately it will be the Oupad community which will suffer.”

The Executive Mayor confirmed that legal action is being undertaken. “We are not afraid to take the strongest action possible and our legal advisors are busy working on the matter. We will be seeking an interdict to stop this unlawful and unnecessary action. We will also be pressing charges against the individuals concerned.”