Out-of-town labourers brought to Grahamstown to work on an RDP housing project have been at the mercy of local residents, after their employer failed to pay them for two months.
Out-of-town labourers brought to Grahamstown to work on an RDP housing project have been at the mercy of local residents, after their employer failed to pay them for two months.
Employed by sub-contractors to build houses in Extension 10, some have resorted to begging temporary jobs in nearby households. They also complain that there is no drinking water at the site, and inadequate toilets. The project, stalled for years, has now taken off at a rapid pace, bringing about a sense of expectation among residents.
But the construction workers say they feel exploited by the very people who brought them to Grahamstown to work.
A Port Elizabeth worker who spoke on condition of anonymity said, "I am staying here just so I can support my family. This sub-contractor has hired a lot of people, I just want to see how she is going to pay all of them," he said.
A plumber, also from out of town, told Grocott's Mail he had been working at the site for almost three months, but has been paid only once. The man claimed the sub-contractor had given him and five other workers R800 to share. "I don't how I'm going to pay rent if they don't pay us again," said the frustrated worker.
Upahla Construction director Luan Schutte told Grocott's Mail that more than 300 houses had been built, but said they had not been given the beneficiary list. Schutte said if people were allowed to move in, vandalism and theft on the site would be curbed.
Regarding the lack of water at the site, Makana infrastructure director Thembinkosi Myalato told Grocott's Mail at a press briefing that the municipality provided the contractor with drinking water. For construction, however, they had to arrange their own. "The municipality does not have responsibility over the site," Myalato said.
Schutte said they had discussed the situation with the sub-contractors. "They asked us not to interfere, as we do not employ the labourers," Schutte said. He said they provide drinking water in containers that are refilled daily. Schutte explained that it is the norm in RDP projects to pay workers on a task basis.
"We pay the subcontractor per unit. This includes labour, as well as profit for the sub-contractor," he said.
Schutte said there are adequate toilets at the site. He said Upahla had hired two security companies and had allowed sub-contractors and their workers to stay in the near-complete houses to prevent vandalism and theft. Schutte said Upahla was due to meet with sub-contractors to discuss the problems.
Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender confirmed that cases of possession of suspected stolen property are being investigated against two men found to be in possession of taps allegedly stolen from a new RDP house.
She said they will appear in court on 27 September.
