Public Works MEC Mohita Latchminarain has said that the Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market will be completed by next year.
She says the expected date of completion is March 2022.
So far an amount of R700 million has been spent by the government for the construction of the still incomplete produce market.
It was meant to be a stage for local farmers and international buyers to access international exportmarkets
Then Premier David Mabuza said the province established the International Fresh Produce Market as a “critical lever to stimulate increased agricultural production”.
He announced that R1.2 billion was going to be used to construct the trading platform but this figure has now been increased to R2 billion.
Opposition parties say the incompleteness of the market is as a result of corruption. They have also called on the government to lay criminal charges against the tenderpreneur who has been paid money but failed to finish the construction.
Latchminarain said protests have contributed immensely to the delays in finishing the project, with R678-million having been spent so far.
(edited by ZK)
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