Limpopo Tourism Agency had assured resort visitors and local residents that the Mphephu Resort bridge would be completed on time.

This comes after the six workers involved in constructing the bridge had downed tools on 13 July after the contractor failed to address their concerns.

Limpopo Tourism Agency's spokesperson Kgatla Ntlhekeng confirmed the worker's strike. He said the “industrial unrest” came as result of minor misunderstandings between the contractor and employees who were communicating with the contractor through Sendedza Civil Association.

He said that all misunderstandings were resolved amicably in the evening of that day in a meeting.

“The time frame for the project is five months, the site was handed over to the contractor on 19 March 2015,” he said. “It commenced the following day and we expect the practical completion on 20 August 2015. We are confident that the project will be completed by the due date.”

Workers had several issues which they needed to present to the Nkululeko Project and Management's operator, Musa Mathebula. But Mathebula had failed to respond to the workers' letter of concerns which was sent to him on May.

Then, on the morning of 13 July, all six workers downed tools. They had yet again contacted the construction's supervisor Thilivhali Lebepe, who said that he had made all arrangements for contractor to meet them. But they didn't believe Lebepe, because he had failed before to bring their employer for them.

The workers complained about discrepancies between the daily pay rate for the permanent workers and the temporary workers. They expressed dissatisfaction on an unpaid overtime and also felt that the employer must hike some pertage on daily rate.

The project's community liaison officer, Mashudu Mashamba, said that the factor contributing to rising concerns was the employer's failure to meet with workers. “I am a community liaison officer but I don't even have the contractor's contacts,” she said. “I don't even think he knows me.”

However, according to Lebepe, Mathebula eventually met all six workers at the local headman's place on 13 July. “We attended to all issues which the workers had raised,” Lebepe said. “There was misunderstanding from the side of the workers. We ironed everything out now.”

The workers' representative, Joseph Mudau, agreed that Mathebula had eventually come to talk with them. “It gives our hearts some satisfaction that he came and spoke with us directly,” he said. “Yes, he refused to raise our daily rate from R95 to R110, but after all we are back at work.”

Mudau added that all problems which led to half-done and unfulfilled projects at many construction were caused by communication breakdown or failure to regard workers' concern. “Sometime all we need as workers is clear explanation and straight communication,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ntlhekeng pointed out that the Limpopo Tourism Agency would like to put it on record that they would not allow anyone to abuse or misuse workers in their name. “We are satisfied with the investigations that we have conducted, however at any given time when the employees feel aggrieved we urge them to utilize the necessary channel to address such,” he said.