The construction of the Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market has incurred expenditure of nearly R700-million, and yet the building is still incomplete.
The project was intended to be a link between farmers, local, national and international buyers.
The provincial government had budgeted R1.2-billion, but the amount has gone up to R2-billion.
Public Works MEC Mohita Latchminarain says the project will be completed in March 2022.
Latchminarain has attributed the delay to protests and a lack of community consultation.
“We are sitting at R678-million in expenditure to date. If you look at the break down, we are incurring the construction cost and professional fees.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province is crying foul.
The party wants the Public Works Department to open criminal cases against the contractors that have been paid, but failed to complete the work.
In the report below, SABC News Reporter Tumelo Machogo oulines Mpumalanga’s backlog in infrastructure development:
