Dying diggers of Namaqualand need saving
| by Andrew Louw, MPL – DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader |
| Date: 04 September 2020 |
| Release: Immediate |
| With growing reports of government suppliers and service providers who have yet to receive payment from provincial government departments, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape has launched a provincial campaign to back unpaid businesses in the province and to support them in the fight to receive their dues.This comes amidst the DA having received a surge of complaints from companies who have done business with government, who have failed to receive payment. Some have been waiting for as long as five months already. This is completely unacceptable.Government departments are mandated to pay service providers and suppliers within 30 days of having done business with them. By failing to honour this payment time frame, government is directly contributing to the further deterioration of the provincial economy, as they are wilfully allowing businesses to go bankrupt.Just like government, businesses also require cash flow to stay afloat. It is therefore extremely arrogant and uncaring of government to delay payment to those whom they have entered into business agreements with.Government cannot use the excuse that their budgets were slashed due to Covid-19 reprioritization. In the first place, they should not have done business if they didn’t have the funds to pay for it. Secondly, it is amazing how quickly departments could dish out millions of rands on cleaning contracts, and to suppliers for dodgy Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s), but yet they could not pay guesthouses, caterers and other service providers, for goods and services procured.It is high time that the matter of government debt is dealt with.We know that government departments in the Northern Cape owe municipalities over R1,2 billion. Yet little is said of just how much government departments owe private companies.The DA is embarking on a campaign to shine the spotlight on this matter. We are inviting all businesses in the Northern Cape, who are awaiting outstanding payments from government institutions, to report the details to us. We are building a solid case against the provincial government and will stand together with business to demand settlement of outstanding accounts.This is increasingly important if we are to protect what is left of the provincial economy and ensure a sustainable rebuild of the broken economy.Companies in the Northern Cape are invited to report all cases of non-payment to the DA at: lisas@da.org.zaHelp us to help you receive your dues. |
Related posts