Promises of lifts installed at Scribante apparently all smoke and mirrors
The impact of the contract lapsing means Scribante will be without functioning lifts for still a long time.
All indications are that the elderly will be battling to use the flights of stairs at Andries Scribante Haven in Cason not just for the rest of the year, but also for the early part of 2019 as well.
The Advertiser reported of the broken lifts at Scribante several times this year. The latest news is that the lifts will not be installed anytime soon.
This is after it has been revealed by project manager Pumzile Naytlo that the contract to install the lifts expired on June 30.
There was no indication of the lapsing of the contract during September when the Advertiser reported it was promised the lifts would be available at the end of October, and installations would be finalised by mid-December.
This is after the old lifts were removed following months of complaints by residents and Ward 32 councillor, Marius de Vos, to the council.
Naytlo, who at one stage indicated the end of August as a date by which the new lifts would be installed, said at the beginning of October the project was delayed due to final payment.
“We can push for the necessary appointment for a contractor by January 2019. This means that the lifts will still be installed within this financial year,” said Naytlo.
“I acknowledge the negative impact this will have on the residents especially the elderly and the frail, thus I am committing my full attention in ensuring that the lifts challenge is sorted out.”
“I humbly apologise for the poor contract management.”
De Vos said he was lost for words.
“Finally, someone owned up to this blatant lie of the lifts tender being approved and the lifts ordered. There is absolutely no logic in these barrage of lies fed to us over almost 12 full months.”
According to De Vos, accountability in the Ekurhuleni metro is non-existent.
“Service delivery has ground to a halt. How do I explain to the frail and old that they will probably have to wait another six months before the lifts will be installed?”
De Vos said this is a total disregard for the principles of Batho Pele, the concept that ‘people first’.
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Still no lifts for elderly at Scribante
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