6.1.1 Background a) In August 2005, the Provincial Tender Board awarded the contract to Vista Park/JOH Arch Investments, with the project set to commence in September that same year. b) Delays in bulk earthworks meant that the construction only commenced in February 2006. c) Further delays saw the revision of the completion date, then set at 20 March 2008. By the end of 2007, slow construction had been noted, including poor workmanship and incomplete remedial work. By the end of August 2009, the contractor was 565 days behind schedule. d) Penalties in this regard, totalling R11.3 million were levied but never deducted from the service provider. e) The contractor failed to submit a revised construction programme but instead submitted claims for extension of time and costs. f) The slow delivery compounded by water penetration caused structures to deteriorate. g) Non-payment to sub-contractors caused delays. Cash flow problems were reported as the reason at the time. h) There was poor supervision of the workforce by the contractor.