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Vumatel: To dig or not to dig

Dear MyPE

With Vumatel continuously ignoring what was presumed to be an instruction from Premier Makhura not to go ahead with the roll-out of fibre in Gauteng, SMMEs recently vented their frustration about Vumatel’s work ethics.

This information was revealed during a recent stakeholder meeting held with SMMEs in Gauteng to discuss their challenges and requests with regards to the rollout of the GBN Phase 2 by the department of e-Government in Gauteng. During this meeting it came to light that Vumatel is refusing to allow any sub-contracting, there is no employment of local labour and no appetite to transfer fixed clients to SMMEs.

Furthermore, the SMMEs which attended the meeting indicated that they have the following challenges with the GBN Phase 2 project:

  • Payments are taking up to three months to be processed once the work is completed;
  • No project plans were given to SMMEs;
  • There is duplication of work being done by municipalities and the province;
  • The risk is very high when doing business with government;
  • Financial assistance remains a big challenge;
  • Non-South African citizens are working on sites and there is no compliance with safety measures;
  • Equipment used in this field is very expensive and SMMEs must often rent the equipment to do the work;
  • Covid-19 regulations are being ignored when workers report for duty.

During an oversight visit with the local ward councillor, Philip Nothnagel to Emfuleni earlier this month to assess the work currently being done by Vumatel, we were shocked to see the damage done to this embattled municipality’s electricity and water infrastructure in Ward 5. Furthermore, red flags were raised when there was a sudden extension of already expired wayleaves to allow Vumatel to lay fibre lines in the municipality. Megalitres of water literally went down the drain when the contractors drilled into the main water pipeline. The level of the Vaal Dam is already below 30% and we simply cannot allow the waste of water by careless contractors.

SMMES affected by this contract have gone so far as to approach the Competition Commission to deal with their complaints.

The DA is calling on both the Office of the Premier as well as the MEC for e-Government, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to provide clarity with regards to the status quo of permission granted or not granted to Vumatel to do work in the Gauteng Province.

An earlier deal by then MEC for Economic Development, Kgosientso Ramokgopa with Vumatel would have seen government leverage around R2 million in investment in internet fibre roll-out. The DA will also be tabling questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to ascertain if Vumatel has indeed been asked to stop work, what support has been given to SMMES and why Vumatel is not allowing for subcontracting.

Regards

Adriana Randall MPL
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Finance and e-Government

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