Duma seeks Treasury meeting over late contractor payments

By Lebone Rodah Mosima

The KwaZulu-Natal’s department of transport is seeking Treasury intervention after warning that irregular monthly cash releases are leaving some road contractors unpaid beyond the 30-day deadline.

The irregular payments, according to MEC Siboniso Duma, add pressure on businesses responsible for maintaining and building the province’s 34,000km road network.

News24 reported last week that the uMzimkhulu River Bridge rehabilitation project on the R102 near Port Shepstone remained suspended at 56% completion after contractors downed tools, with the department owing contractors R31.5 million.

Duma last week presented the department’s quarterly performance report, annual performance plan and 2026/27 budget plans, saying he was concerned with the impact of technical glitches in the basic accounting system, which delayed payment of invoices to contractors and other service providers.

“This resulted in delays in paying for invoices to our contractors and service providers in general. We are still recovering,” he said.

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