In addition, work began before plans were finalised or contracts signed. This project is being built on a 50-year flood plain, adding to the city's costs. Certain companies were appointed, even though they missed the tender deadlines, and some companies were given more than twice the money they tendered for.
Meanwhile, contractors who have worked on the project are still owed millions of rands. To cover the costs, money was diverted by the ANC administration from other priorities. These included the city's capital budget as well as essential services such as fire-fighting; and still the ANC could not complete the N2 Gateway on time.
Now the ANC accuses Mayor Zille of making the N2 Gateway into a political issue! But the N2 Gateway was a political issue right from the start, as you said. It was used by the ANC to campaign for votes ahead of the local government elections.
Minister Sisulu and Mayor Mfeketo wanted the N2 Gateway to show that the ANC could fast-track delivery to its constituencies. But it has shown exactly the opposite. In fact, the N2 Gateway demonstrates everything wrong with the ANC governance. The project was aimed at some people, and not others. [Interjections.]