GOVT APPROVED EGYTIAN BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

mfanukhona@times.co.sz

MBABANE – Government approved and appreciated the now much talked about prefabricated building technology.

This was after a local company styled Mar & Dar Swazi GRC, had introduced the technology to a Cabinet retreat that was held in Pigg’s Peak in 2014.

The meeting was understandably chaired by deceased former Prime Minister, Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini.

It has been established that ministers who served between 2013 and 2018 were of the view that the technology, which they had seen overseas, was ideal for the local market. 

After testing and approving it, the Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA) also issued a Swaziland (Eswatini) national standard for the quality of the product.

According to information sourced by the Times SUNDAY, the issued standard dealt with the classification of glassfibre reinforced concrete. The classification conformed to the needs of the design process of glassfibre reinforced concrete components, which Cabinet also liked and appreciated most when the product was displayed for public view at the Eswatini International Trade Fair.

On February 9, 2017, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, wrote to Mar & Dar Swazi GRC (Pty) Ltd that the Building Appeal Tribunal has approved the company’s application based on information supplied to it (Tribunal).

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has also inspected buildings done by the company such that it advised the chief fire officer in a letter that it carried out a final inspection of the Big Bend Satellite Fire Station on December 28, 2017, and declared the project practically complete.

Acting Principal Building Engineer in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Tony Qwabe listed eight benefits for GRC or GFRC, which are as follows – 

Highly durable and safe;

Design freedom since GRC is able to be moulded into almost any shape and colour;

Requires very low maintenance; 

Installation is quick and cost-effective;

Weather and fire resistant;

Economical;

Energy efficient;

It can be dismantled and moved to desired site.

Mar & Dar also constructed the Mankayane Fire Station, which the Ministry of Public Works and Transport certified the completion to its satisfaction, and issued a certificate of practical completion.

100-bed hospital for E29m

The company, which has built a 100-bed hospital in 20 weeks at a cost of E29 million, directly employs 50 emaSwati, and indirect employment, benefits about 60 people.

Mohamed Al-Raies, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, said it was untrue that there was political pressure to offer his entity a tender to construct 15 houses at King Mswati III International Airport at Sikhuphe.

He said the houses, after completion, were misused by some Asians who occupied them in groups. Al-Raies said he was not aware of any pressure exerted by Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini, the ex-Minister of Public Works and Transport, that the tender be given to his company.

He said two SWACAA officials were flown to Egypt to see how good GRC is, and they spent three nights in a hotel made of the building technology. 

He said the advice given to SWACAA by the officers was that technology is good because of its quality. 

“Whatever happened to those houses is not the responsibility of the company. The houses were commissioned to SWACAA in good condition but it’s unfortunate that doors, window frames and geysers have been removed from some houses,” he said.

He said his company resolved that it could renovate one house to demonstrate that the houses were of good quality, and this was meant to clear “the company’s name and the name of the product.”

The company’s director mentioned that Mar & Dar would cater for expenses for the one house it was going to renovate or construct.

‘no unfair competition’

Asked about reports that he reduced the costs for construction to prices that were unfavourable to his competitors in the industry, he said he would never charge his clients E200 million for a structure he could set up at a cost of E20 million.

With GRC posing a threat to the competition, there is a feeling that certain elements within the industry were all out to ruin the product.

Dvokodvweni MP Mduduzi Magagula, who once criticised the company for the Sikhuphe houses, said his investigation proved that he might have been harsh to this investment.

He told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that he recently met officials from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and directors of Mar & Dar wherein he was assured that the houses could be renovated and brought back to standard.

MP Magagula told the Phila Buthelezi-led PAC that the company was not responsible for the current state of the houses.

In fact, he pointed out that the firm had long shown an interest in renovating the houses and bringing them back to standard. That was to happen in case the owners allowed it to undertake the project.

“This is a registered company that operates in accordance with the laws of the country. They are far more affordable than others,” he said before the PAC.

He said he had been told that the company made price quotations for the construction of the Lubombo Referral Hospital, which were far less than what other contractors had submitted to the Tender Committee.

He said the company emerged as the lowest bidder at the price of E29 million, which included plumbing works and wiring.

mps change tune

The Dvokodvweni MP then said the company was also willing to build one house just to prove that its technology was not to blame for the current state of the Sikhuphe houses.

Manzini MP Busisiwe Mavimbela concurred with her colleague, pointing out that she had also been enlightened on the good work done by Mar & Dar Swazi GRC. She said the company’s prices were affordable.

MP Mavimbela mentioned the fact that the structures built with the prefabricated technology could last for over 50 years was also another reason enough to give the company a chance to serve the local market.

Khangeziwe Mabuza, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, said the issue could be best tackled at PAC level where it was last discussed.

She referred enquiries to MP Phila Buthelezi, who did not answer his phone when he was called yesterday afternoon.

One of the ex-ministers who were part of the Cabinet retreat in 2014 confirmed that the product was embraced because of its quality and long durability.

“As you are aware that ex-ministers are not supposed to comment on government matters but I’m aware of the matter, and I don’t understand why there’s hullabaloo over it,” he said.

The ex-minister said he had anticipated that Mar & Dar Swazi GRC (Pty) Ltd would be attacked for its technology because emaSwati thought bricks were the only building material.

The former politician said the construction industry was becoming dirty and rude to any form of competition. He felt it had been politicised to an extent that it was no longer easy to run a construction company in Eswatini.

The ex-minister urged emaSwati to adapt to new technology in line with His Majesty’s vision that Eswatini should be a first world country.

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