Contractors Forum rejects blame over Tsomo plant vandalism

The Contractors Forum has publicly disputed claims linking it to vandalism at the Tsomo Wastewater Treatment Works, saying the damage resulted from contractor abandonment and lack of security by Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM).

In a written statement responding to CHDM earlier statement, David Platta said: “That vandalism happened due to contractor leaving site, abandoned the works, and CHDM not providing security, and not due to site visits by Contractors Forum to Raise Concerns about Payment Sub Contracting, Opportunity and Labour Payment Concerns.”

Platta added that the Municipality has taken “No Remedial Action” against the contractor who “Left the Work’s with out Completing IT.” He argued that “It is incorrect to release the wrong statement accessing other formations due to the Municipality ineffectiveness to execute trades work’s on their obligation as the Institution of Service Delivery.”

Forum raises reputational and legal concerns

The Forum warned that inaccurate public statements could have serious consequences. “It could also lead to Forum Listed on Extortion List, and we not extortionists,” Platta said. He noted that “If we were able to obtain legal action, would do, to prevent, written notice in future with our name on it, having not been consulted on, especially wrong information about US, Contracts Forum.”

Claims of unpaid workers and project delays

Referencing municipal records, Platta stated: “In their Annual Report for 2024/25 the Municipality has acknowledged that the settlement of General workers, Project Steering Committee and Sub Contractors should be paid and that written in red.”

He said the failure to secure the site was compounded by repeated contractor turnover: “The failure ti secure the site because the present Contractor is the third one all others abandoned the site.”

Platta called on CHDM to “take its responsibility for adjudication to incompetent Contractors” and demanded transparency on costs for “a project started in more than seven years ago.” He said the Municipality “must be transparent to say how much they have spent in that contract.”